Millions of Americans tuned in to watch the highly anticipated Trump state of the union this week, marking a highly polarizing moment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Leading up to the event, one of the top search queries across the internet was when is Trump’s state of the union address, reflecting intense public anticipation for the legislative agenda. Delivered on Tuesday night to a deeply divided chamber, the Donald Trump state of the union ultimately broke historical records by stretching to an exhausting one hour and 48 minutes.
The Ejection of Al Green
However, the most talked-about moment of the evening had little to do with policy. Texas Representative Al Green became the primary focal point of the night when he was abruptly escorted out of the House chamber just minutes into the event.
During the early moments of trump’s state of the union, the Democratic congressman silently stood in the center aisle holding a large sign that read, “Black people aren’t apes!”—a direct protest referencing a racist video recently shared on social media by the president. Several Republican lawmakers attempted to block the cameras’ view of the sign, and a few engaged in heated exchanges with the congressman as he was led out by security. This marked the second consecutive year that Al Green has been ejected from the annual presidential address, cementing his status as one of the administration’s most visible and defiant critics.
Analyzing the Claims
Beyond the dramatic ejection on the House floor, journalists and economic analysts were kept busy dissecting the president’s lengthy remarks.
A comprehensive Trump state of the union 2026 fact check conducted by CBS News and other major outlets revealed a complex mixture of accurate statistics and significant falsehoods. While the president correctly touted a historic decline in the national murder rate (which preliminary data suggests has hit a 125-year low) other statements required heavy contextual correction. The trump state of the union highlighted discrepancies in his claims regarding the immediate success of his controversial global tariffs and the specific impacts of his border security initiatives.
A Deeply Divided Chamber
As the dust settles on Capitol Hill, the evening will likely be remembered just as much for the visible dissent as for the administration’s policy victories. Dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted the Donald Trump state of the union entirely, opting to attend alternative events outside the Capitol. For those who stayed, the strategy was largely silent defiance, sitting stone-faced while their Republican colleagues delivered standing ovations.Between the boycotts, the high-profile removal of Al Green, and the extensive real-time fact-checking analyzing every spoken word, it is clear that the political divisions in Washington remain sharper than ever heading into the crucial midterm election season.
