‘We’re winning so much.’ Trump pronounces during his State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump told America during Tuesday’s State of the Union that “we’re winning so much,” saying he’d sparked a jobs and manufacturing boom at home while imposing a new world order abroad — offering a long list of his accomplishments. 

Trump main objective was convincing increasingly wary Americans that the economy is stronger than many believe, and that they should vote for more of the same by backing Republicans during November’s midterm elections. 

He brought into his address numerous bipartisan patriotic sentiments, dramatically inviting the Olympic gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team into the House chamber to applause. The team came to the Capitol after an afternoon visit to the White House. 

“Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it. People are asking me, please, please, please, Mister President, we’re winning too much. We can’t take it anymore,” Trump said before introducing the team. “We’re not used to winning in our country until you came along.” 

The hockey team, wearing their medals and sweaters that said “USA” in large letters, drew a bipartisan standing ovation. Trump pointed to the Democratic side of the chamber and quipped, “That’s the first time I ever I’ve ever seen them get up.” 

In another made-for-TV moment, Trump announced he would be awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, to the hockey team’s goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck. Trump made a similar surprise announcement in 2020, bestowing the award on conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh during the speech. 

Trump pronounced that the nation, “It is indeed a turnaround for the ages.” 

Trump championed his immigration crackdowns and slashing of the federal government, as well as his push to preserve widespread tariffs that the Supreme Court just struck down and his ability to direct quick-hit military actions around the world, including in Iran and Venezuela. 

The president also announced that tech companies involved in artificial intelligence are agreeing to pay higher electricity rates in areas where their data centers are located, according to a White House official who insisted on anonymity to discuss the speech. 

Data centers tend to use large volumes of electricity, potentially increasing the cost of power to other consumers in the area. 

Trump decried the Supreme Court rejecting his signature tariff policies, calling it “an unfortunate ruling.” And he talked about his attempts to maneuver around that decision without depending on Congress or spooking financial markets. 

“It’s saving our country,” Trump said of tariffs, adding that they were “peace-protecting.” 

The Supreme Court justices in attendance were the same who came to Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress last March: Chief Justice John Roberts, as well as Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kegan. 

Trump greeted the justices and even shook hands before his speech began with Coney Barrett, after previously slamming her for siding with the majority against Trump’s tariffs — despite him appointing her to the high court in his first term. 

Before Trump’s speech, Senate Democrats blocked a bill to restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security, pressing for new limits on immigration enforcement that Republicans have opposed. 

“Tonight, I am demanding the full and immediate restoration of all funding for the Border Security and Homeland Security of the United States,” Trump plans to say, according to the excerpts. 

Affordability questions loom large 

Trump frequently boasts of having tamed inflation and says he has the economy humming, given that the Dow Jones Industrial Average recently exceeded 50,000 points for the first time. 

Democrats’ response to Trump’s speech is being delivered by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger. Several congressional Democrats, meanwhile, skipped Trump’s speech in protest. 

Foreign policy in focus 

Trump’s address comes as two U.S. aircraft carriers have been dispatched to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran. 

The president has repeatedly recounted how U.S. airstrikes last summer pounded Tehran’s nuclear capabilities, and laud the raid that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Nicolás Maduro-, as well as his administration’s brokering of a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza. 

But he also strained U.S. military alliances with NATO, thanks to his push to seize Greenland from Denmark and his failure to take a harder line with Russian President Vladimir Putin in seeking an end to its war in Ukraine. Tuesday was the fourth anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war. 

PHOTO- President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)