Takeaways from Trump's 2026 State of the Union address

Daily News Lesson

Feb. 25, 2026, 7:49 a.m.

Takeaways from Trump's 2026 State of the Union address

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

President Donald Trump broke his own record Tuesday night for the longest presidential speech to Congress. The president spoke for nearly 108 minutes in the House chamber, painting a picture of the United States as “bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever before.” Trump also chastised Democratic lawmakers in the chamber as “crazy” for failing to stand and applaud at points during his address. The U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team also made an appearance in the House chamber to thunderous applause after winning an Olympic gold medal.

DIRECTIONS: Students can watch the highlight video above (8 min) or read the brief article 8 takeaways from Trump's 2026 State of the Union address. Students may also watch one of the following clips on Iran, tariffs and immigration, respectively. Then answer the questions below.

WATCH: 'Can't let' Iran have a nuclear weapon, Trump says (war with Iran)

WATCH: Trump says tariffs could replace income tax (tariffs)

WATCH: 'You killed Americans,' lawmaker says as Trump asks Congress to stand for protecting citizens (immigration)

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

When and where did Trump deliver the State of the Union speech?
Why does the the public seem to not share President Trump's view of the economy?
Who attended the State of the Union speech?
What did Trump say on the issues of tariffs, immigration or Iran (choose one, if short on time)?
How did Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib react to Trump's statements about immigration enforcement?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Do you think Trump's State of the Union speech showed the President working to unify the country or further bridging the divide? Explain.
What do you currently see as the "state of the union" in America? What would you like to see?

Media literacy: The factchecking organization Politifact was at work during Trump's speech, producing Live fact-checking Trump's 2026 State of the Union address. Why is it important to factcheck politician's speeches and others who hold positions of power?

Why do you think Politifact offers this opportunity to viewers?: "Was there something Trump said that you think we should check? Send it to us at truthometer@politifact.com so we can investigate." Would you consider sending an email over an issue that you think needed to be fact checked?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Choose one or two of the following activities to learn more about the State of the Union speech and how lawmakers and the news media responded to the speech. How can you tell if the public's response matches those of politicians and the press? Does it match yours? Explain.

Choose one or two more clips to watch from the State of the Union speech to watch from PBS News' YouTube page. Why did you choose the clip you did?
Watch Rep. Al Green's interview, Democratic Rep. Al Green speaks after being escorted from Trump's State of the Union address for holding up a sign that said "Black People Are Not Apes" following this story.

State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.

U.S. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) holds a sign as U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY