This year's State of the Union address by Donald Trump drew 32.6 million viewers to their televisions, marking a decline compared to last year's speech. Despite the smaller audience, the White House considers the address a strategic success in the context of the upcoming midterm elections. The President focused on the economy and immigration, attempting to impose a narrative of success that the opposition openly calls "political theater" and a form of inciting anger.

Decline in address viewership

The speech attracted 32.6 million viewers, which is a weaker result than last year's address and Trump's historical records.

Focus on immigration and borders

The administration is betting on the fight for electoral reform and deportations, seeing this as key to success in the upcoming elections.

Lack of specifics in the technology sector

The president omitted issues like AI and healthcare in his speech, which surprised many observers of the political scene.

The latest telemetry data indicates that Donald Trump's State of the Union address in February 2026 attracted 32.6 million Americans to their screens. This result is slightly higher than in 2025 (31.45 million), though it remains one of the lowest in the history of his addresses, which analysts attribute to growing polarization and changing media consumption habits. Nevertheless, the president used nearly two hours of airtime to present a vision of a "golden age," emphasizing falling inflation and rising incomes. This narrative was met with an immediate reaction from Democrats. Governor Abigail Spanberger publicly questioned whether citizens actually feel the declared prosperity. Critics in the American media, including in The New York Times, described the address as calculated to provoke rage and attack anyone who does not show full loyalty to the administration. The State of the Union address originates from provisions in Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which requires the president to periodically provide Congress with information on the state of the nation. Since the first radio broadcast in 1923, this event has become a key tool for mass communication.In terms of legislative proposals, the address emphasized the controversial voter ID verification bill and mass deportations. Although polls indicate that a majority of Americans support the goals of Trump's immigration policy, they are opposed to the brutal methods of law enforcement. At the same time, the president omitted the topic of artificial intelligence development, and on the issue of healthcare, he limited himself mainly to declarations about lowering prescription drug prices, omitting broader systemic reforms. Instead, he focused on rhetorical attacks, which Stephen Miller, a presidential advisor, actively promoted on social media, engaging in public disputes with political commentators. Midterm elections, held in the middle of the president's four-year term, traditionally serve as a referendum on the incumbent administration and determine the balance of power in both houses of Congress.The economy remained the central point of the message, and Vice President Vance traveled directly after the address to key states like Wisconsin to reinforce the White House's optimistic message. However, experts point to serious legislative obstacles, especially regarding drug prices, where the administration faces resistance from the conservative wing of its own party. Republicans hope that tough rhetoric on borders will overshadow the lack of detailed plans in other areas of domestic policy and allow them to maintain control of Congress in the fall of 2026. „This is a golden age for America, an era where our dreams are becoming reality.” — Donald Trump

Mentioned People

  • Donald Trump — President of the United States, main speaker during the State of the Union address.
  • Stephen Miller — Presidential political advisor, involved in media disputes after the address.
  • Abigail Spanberger — Governor of Virginia, criticizing Trump's optimistic economic vision.