‘Didn’t mention Epstein once’: Americans react to Trump’s record-breaking ‘nearly two hours of lies’ State of the Union
President Donald Trump’s record-breaking State of the Union address on Tuesday evening elicited sharply divided reactions from lawmakers in the House chamber and from the broader public.
Unsurprisingly, the president’s prime-time speech on Capitol Hill drew fierce backlash from Democrats, many of whom wore protest pins, shouted him down and accused him of spreading lies and sidestepping the Epstein files. Republicans cheered him on and echoed his laundry list of accomplishments.
During his televised remarks — which ran for a record-breaking hour and 48 minutes — the 79-year-old president spoke glowingly about his whirlwind first year in office. He touted his immigration crackdown, sweeping tariffs and his efforts to bring down prices, claiming the “golden age of America” had begun.
He also made several factually incorrect statements, including that he should be in his “third term,” that mail-in ballots are “crooked,” that he inherited record-high inflation and that he has ended eight foreign wars.
The address — which is typically attended by lawmakers, Cabinet officials and Supreme Court justices — was marked by a notable absence of more than two dozen Democratic members, who held their own event in protest of the president.
Among the Democrats who did attend, many wore anti-Trump pins, including one which read “Liar liar” with the president depicted with a Pinocchio-style nose. Another lawmaker donned a pin that read: “Stand with survivors. Release the files.”
Some women lawmakers showed up in all-white outfits in honor of women’s suffrage, continuing a tradition that began during Trump’s first term.
Several Democrats also pulled stunts that disrupted the president’s remarks.
Minutes into the address, Rep. Al Green, a Texas Democrat, was escorted out of the chamber as he held a sign that stated “Black People Aren’t Apes” — an apparent reference to a video posted on Trump’s Truth Social account depicting the Obamas as apes.
Two progressive Midwestern Democrats also shouted at the president as he spoke about his record on immigration. “You have killed Americans,” Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar yelled, adding “You should be ashamed!” Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib — who was wearing a large “F*** ICE” pin — heckled Trump by repeatedly shouting: “lies.”
A contentious moment also came when Trump called the recent Supreme Court ruling striking down his tariffs “very unfortunate.” Members of the court were seen looking stone-faced as the president singled out the court for the high-profile decision. Last week, he described those who ruled against him as “fools and lapdogs.”
Republicans, by contrast, rose repeatedly to applaud the president during his address — including when he spoke about transgender policies, gas prices and immigration.
One of the most memorable moments came when Trump enjoined attendees to stand if they agreed that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens not illegal aliens.” While Republicans quickly rose from their seats, Democrats sat still, leading Trump to say they should be “ashamed” of themselves.
At one point, the president also gestured towards Democrats and said “these people are crazy,” prompting Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson to stand up and clap.
