Affordability and hardline security collide in a record-length State of the Union night

Live coverage shows a polarized night: Democrats stage counter-programming with Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivering a cost‑of‑living focused rebuttal, highlighting affordability as a contrast to Trump’s agenda, while Trump sticks to a disciplined, long program that pairs personal crime stories with a push for tougher immigration enforcement, tariffs, and economic wins. The evening features GOP and Democratic talking points, disrupted by some Democrats in the chamber, a nationwide counter‑protest on the National Mall, and a push to ban stock trading by lawmakers. Trump’s address runs 1 hour 47 minutes—a new length record—framed by questions from allies about policy specifics, references to tariff plans, AI data-center costs, and a guest-filled optics strategy in the guest box.