President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term Tuesday night at the U.S. Capitol, emphasizing immigration and tariff policies as his political fortunes remain in decline. The speech came shortly after the Supreme Court struck down his signature global tariffs and as he considers potential military strikes on Iran.

Immigration as a Central Theme

Immigration dominated Trump’s speech, a topic he has frequently used to rally his base in election years. He referenced ‘angel moms’ whose children were victimized by undocumented immigrants and accused Democrats of allowing the border invasion to occur before he took office.

‘We can never forget that many in this room not only allowed the border invasion to happen before I got involved, but indeed they would do it all over again if they ever had the chance,’ Trump said.

He then challenged Democrats to stand if they agreed with the statement that ‘the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.’ Democrats remained seated, while Republicans stood and applauded for an extended period.

Trump later told Democrats, ‘You should be ashamed of yourself not standing up.’ Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota yelled at Trump, despite Democratic leaders having previously warned their members against outbursts.

Tariff Claims and Constitutional Ambiguity

Trump did not repeat his recent criticism of the Supreme Court for striking down his global tariffs but instead claimed he still has great use with other tariff authorities. He stated that Congress should not codify his tariffs into law.

‘Congressional action will not be necessary,’ Trump said. This suggests he has not heeded Justice Neil Gorsuch’s plea for the American government to include more legislating.

Trump also predicted that tariffs paid for by foreign countries will ‘substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax,’ reducing the financial burden on Americans. However, this claim is historically inaccurate, as tariffs were the predominant form of taxation in the early United States but not since the 20th century.

False Claims and Economic Data

Trump’s speech was filled with what critics called false claims. He cited that he inherited ‘inflation at record levels,’ but the most recent reading was a rate of 2.4% in January, marking an eight-month low. In contrast, inflation was 3.0% in January 2025, which is far off any records.

He also claimed gas was below $2.30 per gallon in some states, but AAA shows the average price is not that low in any state. Additionally, Trump claimed investment ‘commitments for more than $18 trillion pouring in from all over the globe,’ a figure that is wildly exaggerated.

He stated that ‘more Americans are working today than at any time in the history of our country,’ which is strictly true in terms of raw numbers but is due to population growth. The unemployment rate has risen under Trump, and job growth was anemic in 2025, one of the worst years in decades.

Trump also claimed we are in a ‘golden age’ and that the ‘roaring economy is roaring like never before.’ However, this claim took liberties with the data, as the economy has faced significant challenges in recent years.

Despite his claims, Trump’s political support remains low, and his second term is facing significant challenges. His focus on immigration and tariffs highlights the issues that continue to shape his agenda, even as his policies face increasing scrutiny and opposition.