US President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address on Tuesday, using the high-profile national platform to defend his second-term agenda on immigration, tariffs, taxes, healthcare, crime, and foreign policy. The speech also featured repeated attacks on Democrats and bold claims about global diplomacy, economic strength, and national security.
Trump’s address mixed policy announcements with emotional moments, sweeping assertions, and sharp political messaging, underscoring the priorities that continue to define his presidency.
India-Pakistan Ceasefire Claim Takes Centre Stage
One of the most controversial moments of the speech came when Trump again claimed credit for preventing a war between India and Pakistan.
Speaking before Congress, he said: “Pakistan and India would have been in a nuclear war.”
He added: “Pakistan and India would have been a nuclear war. 35 million people, said the Prime Minister of Pakistan, would have died if it were not for my involvement,” referring to Shehbaz Sharif.
Trump repeated his assertion that his administration used trade deals and tariff threats to stop the conflict. New Delhi has not endorsed this claim and has maintained that the ceasefire understanding reached on May 10, 2025, resulted from direct talks between the two countries.
What Triggered the India-Pakistan Standoff
Trump referred to the military confrontation that followed the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, in which 26 civilians were killed. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and inside Pakistan.
The four-day escalation raised global concerns due to the nuclear capabilities of both countries, before hostilities ended with a ceasefire agreement.
Immigration and Border Security: ‘Zero Illegal Aliens’ Claim
Immigration formed a major pillar of Trump’s speech. He claimed unprecedented success at the southern border, stating: “In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States.”
Trump cited sharply reduced arrest numbers along the Mexican border and highlighted a reported 56% drop in fentanyl flowing into the country. Critics argue that the decline followed strict enforcement measures, including the suspension of asylum processing, raising humanitarian concerns.
Mexico Cartel Operation and ‘El Mencho’ Reference
Trump also appeared to reference the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
“We’ve also taken down one of the most sinister cartel kingpins of all. You saw that yesterday,” he said.
Mexican authorities later confirmed Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” died during an operation in Jalisco supported by US intelligence. Reports suggested around 70 people were killed during the violence linked to the operation.
Gaza Ceasefire Claim and Hostage Deal
Turning to the Middle East, Trump credited himself with brokering a ceasefire in Gaza. “I negotiated that every single hostage, both living and dead, has been returned home,” he said.
The US-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas paused major fighting and enabled hostage releases and humanitarian aid. However, the long-term future of the conflict triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack remains uncertain.
Tariffs and Taxes: Defending a Controversial Strategy
Trump strongly defended his tariff policy despite a recent Supreme Court setback.
“Tariffs paid for by foreign countries will… substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax,” he said.
He also promoted last year’s Republican tax-and-spending law, highlighting proposals such as:
- No federal income tax on tips
- No tax on overtime pay
- Deductions for older Americans
- ‘Trump Accounts’ offering $1,000 investment accounts for newborns
However, economists continue to dispute Trump’s claims about tariffs replacing income taxes and his repeated assertion of “no tax on Social Security,” which does not apply universally.
Healthcare: ‘Great Healthcare Plan’ Returns
Trump again pitched his ‘Great Healthcare Plan’, proposing to send money directly to Americans through health savings accounts rather than subsidising insurance companies.
Democrats argue the proposal would replace Affordable Care Act subsidies that helped reduce premiums before expiring earlier this year. The plan has yet to gain meaningful support in Congress.
Trump also claimed prescription drug prices were cut by “300%, 400%, 500%, 600%,” a statement health experts say is mathematically impossible.
Economy: ‘Hottest Country in the World’
“Now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world,” Trump declared while defending his economic record.
The US economy contracted earlier in 2025 before rebounding mid-year and slowing again toward the end. Inflation has eased from its peak but remains elevated in several categories, while hiring growth has moderated.
Trump also claimed gas prices are below $2.30 per gallon in most states and said he secured $18 trillion in foreign investment commitments—figures that analysts and official data dispute.
Venezuela, Iran, and Military Power
Trump claimed the US received over 80 million barrels of oil from Venezuela following a military raid that led to the capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro. He also referenced operations involving Iran, framing them as examples of decisive US global action.
Crime, DC, and Law Enforcement
Trump pledged to make Los Angeles safe “like Washington, D.C.” After declaring a crime emergency in DC in August 2025 and deploying federal forces, violent crime fell 29% year-over-year. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has said crime was already trending downward.
Emotional Moments and Medal of Freedom
The President highlighted the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, pledging justice for her family. He also announced that he would award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Connor Hellebuyck after Team USA’s gold medal win at the Milan-Cortina Games, drawing standing ovations in the chamber.
Trump State of the Union Highlights: The Bigger Picture
Trump’s State of the Union reflected the defining themes of his second term: aggressive immigration enforcement, economic nationalism, bold foreign policy claims, and sharp political division. As reactions continue to pour in, the speech set the tone for the policy battles and political narratives likely to dominate the months ahead.
