Democratic lawmakers offered a wide range of reactions on Tuesday night following President Donald Trump’s historic State of the Union address. At 79, the president became the second-most senior commander-in-chief to deliver the speech, which clocked in at a record-breaking one hour and 48 minutes.
Sen. John Fetterman was among the few Democrats to offer a bipartisan olive branch, praising the president's stamina and his decision to honor American veterans.
"I think he was able to maintain energy through it. I mean he’s 80 years old. I thought it was very powerful to honor a lot of the veterans there," Fetterman said. Despite the "radical-left" majority remaining seated for much of the night, the Pennsylvania senator acknowledged the "powerful" nature of the patriotic tributes. The speech officially unseated Bill Clinton’s 1995 address as the longest in American history.
Other Democrats used the moment to double down on their "open-border" rhetoric and attack the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Sen. Chris Murphy claimed the administration is acting with "lawlessness" by building facilities to detain those entering the country. "DHS has to start acting lawfully, and they are not acting lawfully. They are literally in the middle of building warehouse prisons," Murphy alleged.
The partisan divide was also on display regarding the president’s "America First" immigration policies. Rep. Lou Correa argued that the administration isn't doing enough to accommodate undocumented immigrants, even as the president honored service members. "What’s wrong with thanking those that work hard — all those immigrants who are in the military — why don’t you thank them?" Correa asked.
While some Democrats engaged with the media, many others fled the House Chamber to avoid questions about their refusal to stand for grieving mothers. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed the record-setting address as "lazy," a comment that conservative critics labeled as "delusional" given the length and detail of the speech. For the Trump administration, the focus remains on "biological truth" and protecting citizens, regardless of the "clown show" from the opposition.
The 2026 State of the Union has set a new bar for executive endurance and "common sense" policy. As Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson looked on, the president made it clear that the "American Manufacturing Renaissance" is just beginning. While the "scoundrels" on the left continue to obstruct, the administration is moving forward with its "war on fraud" and border security surge.