Trump Touts “Turnaround for the Ages” in State of the Union as Midterms Loom

US President Donald Trump used his State of the Union address on Tuesday to declare a sweeping national revival, hoping a primetime platform will help reverse poor polling numbers and steady his administration ahead of high‑stakes midterm elections.

Entering the House chamber to loud cheers and a standing ovation from Republicans, Trump delivered a defiant message, while Democrats remained seated in protest.

“My fellow Americans, our nation is back bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before,” the 79‑year‑old said, framing his first year of his second term as a period of dramatic transformation.

Trump faces deep unpopularity in national polls, and Republicans fear losing their narrow House majority a shift that could stall the remainder of his term and expose him to another impeachment attempt. Still, he projected confidence, insisting his administration had achieved “a turnaround for the ages.”

Olympic Spotlight and Medal of Freedom Moment
Capitalising on national excitement over Team USA’s Olympic gold in ice hockey, Trump invited the players onto the House floor to roaring applause and chants of “USA.” He then announced that the team’s goalie would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honour.

The New York Times reported that at least 40 Democrats planned to skip the speech.

Foreign Policy Tension as US Forces Mass Near Iran
With US naval and air forces positioned around Iran, Trump adopted a firm tone on national security. There was intense anticipation over whether he would signal new action against Tehran, where he has repeatedly threatened to use force to halt its nuclear ambitions.

“As president, I will make peace wherever I can but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must,” he said, according to prepared excerpts.

He also highlighted developments in Venezuela, noting that the country where US forces removed longtime leader Nicolás Maduro in January was now exporting oil to the United States.

A Lengthy Address Expected
Speculation swirled that Trump’s speech could stretch to three hours, potentially surpassing last year’s record‑setting one‑hour‑forty‑minute address. The annual speech offers a rare opportunity to appear simultaneously on all major US television networks a moment Trump hopes will help shift public sentiment ahead of November’s midterms.