Trumps State of the Union Address Fact-Checked for Accuracy

US President Donald Trump Delivers State of the Union Address with Emphasis on Economic and Immigration Issues

In a 108-minute State of the Union address, US President Donald Trump addressed various economic and immigration issues, drawing attention to his administration’s performance before the upcoming midterm elections. During the speech, Trump highlighted what he described as significant declines in inflation and gas prices.

Trump also defended his administration’s hardline stance on immigration, which has been a topic of controversy in Democratic-run cities. He called on legislators to show their support for protecting American citizens over non-citizens, prompting a standing ovation from Republicans and silence from seated Democrats.

The speech did not include any mention of the fourth anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war or the release of government files related to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. However, Trump did introduce the Olympic gold-medal-winning men’s hockey team and announced plans to award goaltender Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Fact-checks have been conducted on some of Trump’s statements regarding inflation and gas prices. According to data, while inflation has eased somewhat during his second term, “plummeting” is an exaggeration. The year-over-year rise in prices for January 2026 was about 2.4 percent, lower than the rate when he took office in January 2025.

Additionally, Trump’s claims about gas prices are not entirely accurate. While some items have seen price decreases during his second term, others have experienced price increases. The price of gasoline has dropped about 6 percent, but the state average is still above $2.30 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.

The speech also drew attention to a rare moment of bipartisan cheer when Trump introduced the Olympic gold-medal-winning men’s hockey team and announced plans to award Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Source: Al Jazeera