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State of the Union address 2026 live updates: President Donald Trump lauds ‘golden age’ in wide-ranging speech

LIVE UPDATES: Speaking at his State of the Union address, US President Donald Trump has declared the world had been ‘ripping off’ the US and foreign countries were now ‘not making money like they used to’.

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Natalie Richards
The Nightly
President delivers his State of the Union address.
President delivers his State of the Union address. Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

US politics: US President Donald Trump is set to deliver a mammoth State of the Union address at the US Capitol, where he is expected to discuss a host of hot topics, including immigration and tariffs.

The Supreme Court ruled against many of Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs on Friday and Tuesday’s address will give him the chance to directly challenge the justices responsible for the decision.

He is also expected to speak at length about the domestic economy, particularly in light of the fact that only 39 per cent of US adults approve of his economic leadership.

“Watch the State of the Union. We’re going to be talking about the economy. We inherited a mess,” Trump said on Wednesday.

Greenland, the public outcry over the killings of US citizens by Federal agents and Trump’s intensifying threats about launching military strikes on Iran are also likely to be on the agenda of his wide-ranging address.

Tuesday’s address is due to start at 10am WA time. Follow our live updates below.

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Natalie Richards is reporting live.

Zzzz

It’s been a long day for some, with one member of Congress caught taking a nap during the President’s address.

‘Cheapest drugs in the world’

Trump has promised cheaper healthcare and “maximum price transparency” for US citizens.

“I want to stop big payments to the insurance companies and, instead, give the money to the people so they can buy their own healthcare,” he said,

“It will be better healthcare at a much lower cost.”

He’s also promised Americans will receive the cheapest prescription drugs in the world.

Other countries ‘ripping off’ the US

And the President has finally addressed tariffs, declaring the world had been “ripping off” the US and foreign countries were now “not making money like they used to”.

“Countries that were ripping us off for decades are now paying us hundreds of millions dollars, they were ripping us so badly, you all know that, even the Democrats know it,” he said.

“Yet these countries are now happy and so are we. We made deals. The deals are all done. And they’re happy. They’re not making money like they used, to but we’re making a lot of money.”

Olympians celebrated

Trump has taken a break from celebrating himself to celebrate the gold-medal winning men’s US hockey team.

The team arrived arrived, wearing their medals, to chants of “USA”.

Awkwardly, the women’s team said it had declined an invitation to the event due to “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the (winter Olympic) Games”.

Trump says the women’s team “will soon be coming to the White House”.

Family affair

Trump’s five children - Barron, Donald Jr, Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany - are among those supporting him. It is the first time Barron, 19, has attended a SOTU address.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 24: Ivanka Trump (L), Barron Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 24: Ivanka Trump (L), Barron Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Trump champions the domestic economy

The President claims mortgage rates are the lowest in four years and those who own a home are “really rich for the first time in their lives”.

Fuel prices, he says, have dropped from up to $6 a gallon to as little as $1.85 a gallon.

“The stock market has set all-time record highs since election. Think of that - one year,” he said.

“What a difference a President makes!”

Trump on crime

“Last year, the murder rate saw its single largest decline in recorded history. This is the biggest decline - think of it - in recorded history,” Trump said.

‘Our border is secure’

“Today, our border is secure. Our spirit is restored, inflation is plumetting, incomes are rising fast, the roaring economy is roaring like never before and our enemies are scared,” Trump said.

“Our military and police are stacked and America is respected again, perhaps like never before.”

Trump declares it the ‘Golden Age’

“Our nation is back, bigger, better and richer than ever before,” the President has declared.

“And you have seen nothing yet, we’ll and better and better, this is the golden age of America.”

Get comfortable

Trump is known for long SOTU addresses. Last year, he set a record with a 1 hr 39 minute speech.

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