President Donald Trump took to the House rostrum on Feb. 24 for a record-breaking 108-minute State Of The Union Address (SOTU). Amidst a partial shutdown and a plumbing approval rating hovering below 35%, the President sought to rebrand his image as the “Golden Age” of America.

While Speaker Mike Johnson’s formal letter brought together all 535 members of Congress, the atmosphere felt less like a unified event and more like a high-stakes campaign rally for 2026.

The political theater began when the Sergeant at Arms Deputy, William McFarland, announced the arrival of the President to the Speaker. Unlike the Republicans, the Democrats stayed seated throughout Trump’s lengthy walk from the House Doors to the rostrum.

Notably, President Trump shook the hand of Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), a senator who has received critiques from fellow Democrats for breaking party lines, and Chief Justice Roberts, who earlier ruled to go against the tariffs implemented by the Trump Administration.

Several Democrats, even some in leadership, chose to skip the President’s address, which was clear through the number of empty seats on the right side of the chamber.

However, inside the chamber, several Democrats interrupted or held up signs, visibly showing their frustration with the administration. Rep. Al Greene (D-TX) was escorted out of the chamber by the members of the Sergeant at Arms for holding up a sign that read: “Black People Aren’t Apes!” in reference to Trump’s post featuring both President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.

When Trump addressed immigration policy, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) shouted at him after he made combative remarks towards the Democratic Party: “You have killed Americans.”

In his speech, President Trump also criticized the handling of the border by his predecessor, President Joe Biden, by stating that his own administration let in “zero illegal immigrants…”

At one point, he challenged the Democrats to stand and cheer if they agreed with this sentence: “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

The Republican side burst into cheers; however, the Democrats stayed seated. Trump took his eyes off the teleprompter, turned his body towards the Democratic members, and pointed with one finger, calling them “crazy” and saying they should be “ashamed of themselves.”

Immigration wasn’t the only major issue Trump addressed. He pivoted to the economy, boasting about inflation, plumbing, and lowering gas prices. He specifically pointed out the prices of beef and eggs.

The US economy has seen eggs fall substantially, but beef has only risen across the markets. Economists back this by stating that “price movements are largely guided by the supply and demand dynamics specific to each food, rather than federal policy…”

He also hinted at an account that would grant all babies born after Jan. 2026 a $ 1,000 stipend when they turn 18.

Most importantly, he focused on the gas prices, which could be a major issue for Americans, as the Strait of Hormuz is blocked by Iranian ships. He stated that they are below “$2.30 a gallon in most states and in some places, $1.99 a gallon.” However, according to the AAA, which tracks gas prices across the country, Oklahoma is the only state offering gas at $2.30 a gallon. Many states have gas prices above $4.00.

After his speech, Democratic Minority Leader, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), doubled down on the decision not to stand on CNN.

“We [Democrats] agree we need to protect Americans.”

The five-time New York Senator continued to explain Trump’s use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents across the nation.

“So, yes,” Sen. Schumer said. “We want to protect Americans. He’s not doing it, and that’s why the American people are against what ICE is doing. So it was legitimate and right not to stand.”

Polls showed Trump’s speech didn’t help him, but it didn’t hinder him significantly. Nearly 38% of people stated that they thought the President’s speech was very positive, and this is parallel to his actual approval rating.

Neither Republicans nor Democrats “scored” a massive win; however, if Trump & his fellow Republicans want to keep their control in the House & Senate in November, they must improve and divert from their current pathway.