President Trump Says the State of Our Union is "Strong"

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: President Trump Says the State of Our Union is "Strong"
Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Dave Anthony (FOX News Podcasts)

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on key highlights from President Trump's State of the Union address, reactions from both Republicans and Democrats, major national security updates, and significant domestic news. The podcast discusses President Trump’s economic policies, border security claims, moments of political tension during the address, and other top stories including military exercises with South Korea, controversy around Senator Mark Kelly, and ongoing winter storm recovery.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump's State of the Union Address

• Duration & Tone: Noted as the "longest address to Congress ever" at 1 hour and 48 minutes ([00:17]).

• Economic Highlights:

  • President Trump claims a historic economic turnaround, attributing falling inflation and solutions to affordability issues to his administration.
  • He blames previous issues on Democrats.
  • Announces new, tougher tariffs in response to a Supreme Court decision striking down earlier policies.
  • Quote ([00:32]), President Trump:

    "The tariffs paid for by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love."

• Border Security:

  • Declares U.S. has the "strongest and most secure border in American history" ([00:52]).
  • Calls for applause:

    "If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens." ([00:59])

  • Republicans cheer; Democrats reject, with vocal tension on the House floor.

• Political Tensions:

  • More than 70 Democrats boycott the address.
  • During a pointed moment, President Trump tells uncooperative Democrats they "should be ashamed of themselves"; some shout that he should be ashamed ([01:13]).

2. Democratic Response

• Delivered by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger:
  • Criticizes President Trump's speech:

    "He lied. He, he scapegoated and he distracted. And he offered no real solutions to our nation's pressing challenges." ([01:27])

3. National Security

• Iran Policy:

  • President Trump vows to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons ([01:36]).

• Military Honors:

  • Awards a Purple Heart to a 100-year-old WWII fighter pilot.
  • Congressional Medal of Honor to a National Guard member wounded in November, and tribute to the family of another soldier killed ([01:36]).

• Olympic Tribute:

  • Honors the men's Olympic gold medal hockey team, prompting "USA, USA" chants ([01:49]).

4. Foreign Affairs – U.S. War Games with South Korea ([02:31])

• Announced upcoming "Freedom Shield" joint military exercise scheduled for March 9–19.
• Emphasizes defensive intent, although North Korea views these as rehearsals for invasion.
• "Warrior Shield" field training to enhance realism and readiness.
• Thousands of troops expected to participate.
  — Jonathan Savage (FOX News)

5. Pentagon Controversy: Senator Mark Kelly ([03:19])

• Background:
  • Mark Kelly, retired Navy captain and Democratic senator, faces possible Pentagon punishment.
  • Accused of encouraging troops to "refuse illegal orders" in a public video.
  • Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump label the remarks as "seditious."
• Ongoing Legal Battle:
  • Legal action to demote Kelly and reduce his retirement pay is pending appeal.
  • Kelly’s response:

    "These guys don't know when to quit." ([03:27])
    — Tanya J. Powers (FOX News)

6. Other Domestic News

• Winter Storm Recovery:

  • About 200,000 power outages remain, mainly in Massachusetts, due to a recent blizzard.
  • Airlines are recovering, with about 200 cancellations after thousands of flights were previously grounded ([04:09]).

• Stock Market Update:

  • Stock futures rebound after Monday's sell-off ([04:09]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump:

  "We have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before and a turnaround for the ages." ([00:10])
  "If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens." ([00:59])

• Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger:

  "He lied. He, he scapegoated and he distracted. And he offered no real solutions to our nation's pressing challenges." ([01:27])

• Senator Mark Kelly:

  "These guys don't know when to quit." ([03:27])

• Olympic Hockey Tribute:

  President Trump’s shoutout to the gold medal team leads to a "USA, USA" chant in the chamber ([01:49]).

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Important Timestamps

• 00:02 — Dave Anthony introduces FOX News alert, highlights length and tone of the State of the Union.
• 00:32 — Trump on economic policies and tariffs.
• 00:52 — Trump declares border security victory and criticizes Democrats' lack of support.
• 01:27 — Democratic response from Abigail Spanberger.
• 01:36 — Trump on Iran and honors for military heroes.
• 01:49 — Olympic hockey tribute sparks crowd chant.
• 02:31 — U.S.-South Korea military exercises detailed by Jonathan Savage.
• 03:19 — Senator Mark Kelly’s confrontation with the Pentagon.
• 04:09 — Winter storm and airline recovery update; market news.

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Conclusion

This episode offers a high-octane recap of President Trump's State of the Union, the polarized congressional response, major national and international developments, and the ongoing winter storm recovery. Noteworthy is the episode's blend of sharp political exchanges, policy pronouncements, and moments of patriotic ceremony, all in the fast-moving, direct style characteristic of FOX News reporting.

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Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

This is a FOX News alert. He took longer than ever to tell us the state of the Union is strong. I'm Dave Anthony.

[President Trump]

We have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before and a turnaround for the ages.

[Dave Anthony]

President Trump, in the longest address to Congress ever, an hour, 48 minutes, touted a roaring economy, saying he's lowering inflation, solving an affordability crisis he blames on Democrats. The president also called his new tariffs stronger after what he called an unfortunate Supreme Court ruling striking down as earlier ones.

[President Trump]

The tariffs paid for by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern day system of income tax, taking a great financial burden off the people that I love.

[Dave Anthony]

While Republicans cheer, Democrats say it's the American people paying those tariffs costs. And they also didn't cheer this.

[President Trump]

We now have the strongest and most secure border in American history.

[Dave Anthony]

And as the president talked about removing criminals in the US Illegally, he also

[President Trump]

said, if you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.

[Dave Anthony]

Again, those are Republicans applauding. Democrats stayed seated and the president told them they should be ashamed of themselves. Some of them shouted back, saying he should be ashamed. More than 70 Democrats weren't even there. Boycotting Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the Democratic response.

[Ainsley Earhart]

He lied. He, he scapegoated and he distracted. And he offered no real solutions to our nation's pressing challenges.

[Dave Anthony]

President Trump also warned Iran he won't let them build nuclear weapons. And he awarded a Purple heart to a 100-year-old World War II fighter pilot, a Congressional Medal of Honor to a National Guard member shot in Washington in November, and of the family of the other soldier killed that day. And the president also paid tribute to

[President Trump]

the men's gold medal Olympic hockey team.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Come on in.

[Dave Anthony]

That led to a usa, USA chant. America's listening to Fox News.

[Netflix Economic Analyst]

Let's talk about Netflix, but I don't want to talk about their shows and movies. I want to talk about the economic impact Netflix makes in this country. Over the past 10 years, Netflix has contributed $225 billion to the US economy. They brought productions to all 50 states and hired over 150,000Americans as cast and crew, carpenters, electricians, small businesses, real American jobs, Netflix investing in America.

[Dave Anthony]

While President Trump vows to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons, the US Is getting ready to play war games with South Korea to deal with another American adversary that already has nukes, North Korea.

[Jonathan Savage]

The Freedom Shield exercise is planned for March 9th through 19th. It's largely computer simulated and designed to test the allies ability to work together. But it will be accompanied by a field training exercise called Warrior Shield that we're told is to enhance training realism and combat readiness. North Korea views the drills as rehearsals for an invasion, but the United States and the south describe them as defensive in nature. South Korean and US Officials have not said how many troops will participate. The exercises typically involve thousands. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

A retired Navy captain who's now a US Senator, Mark Kelly, a Democrat, is still facing possible punishment from the Department of War.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Secretary Pete Hegseth is appealing a federal court ruling that blocked the Pentagon's effort to demote Senator Mark Kelly and cut his retirement pay. The fight started in November when Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers, veterans of the armed services or intelligence community, released a video telling U.S. troops to, quote, refuse illegal orders. The video came just weeks after the Trump administration started military airstrikes against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean. Secretary Hegseth and President Trump called the remarks seditious. Kelly, a potential 2028 presidential contender who served 25 years in uniform and as a NASA astronaut, has vowed to continue fighting, saying, quote, these guys don't know when to quit. Tanya J. Powers, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

There are still about 200,000 power outages from the blizzard that hit the Northeast, most of them in Massachusetts, while airlines are finally Recovering just about 200 cancellations today after more than 11,000 flights were grounded Sunday through Tuesday. On Wall street, rising stock futures suggest a continued rebound from Monday's big sell off. I'm Dave Anthony and this is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of

[Dave Anthony]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.