State of the Union updates: Trump spars with Dems, touts economy and immigration

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, and Meredith Deliso ABCNews logo
Last updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 5:16AM GMT
Trump spars with Dems, touts economy in State of the Union

President Donald Trump declared during Tuesday's marathon State of the Union that "we're winning so much," saying he'd sparked a jobs and manufacturing boom at home while imposing a new world order abroad - hoping that offering a long list of his accomplishments can counter approval ratings that have been falling.

For the president, the high-profile speech was a chance to make the case directly to millions of Americans ahead of November's midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
ABCNews logo
Feb 25, 2026, 3:37 AM

Fact check of President Trump's State of the Union address

Just over a year into his second term, President Donald Trump is delivering the State of the Union address, making his case for sweeping policy changes and executive actions that have come to define America's current moment.

ABC News is live fact-checking some of the president's statements that may be exaggerated, need more context or are false.

Go here for a look at the full fact check from ABC News.

President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
ABCNews logo
Feb 25, 2026, 3:39 AM GMT

Trump honors Charlie Kirk, chamber applauds widow

Earlier in his speech, Trump paid respect to assassinated conservative host Charlie Kirk, and paid tribute to his widow Erika.

Erika Kirk smiles as President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
Erika Kirk smiles as President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

Members applauded her with a chant of "Charlie, Charlie."

"In Charlie's memory we must call come together to reaffirm that America is one nation under God, and we must totally reject political violence," Trump said.

ABCNews logo
Feb 25, 2026, 3:37 AM GMT

Fact check of President Trump's State of the Union address

Just over a year into his second term, President Donald Trump is delivering the State of the Union address, making his case for sweeping policy changes and executive actions that have come to define America's current moment.

ABC News is live fact-checking some of the president's statements that may be exaggerated, need more context or are false.

Go here for a look at the full fact check from ABC News.

President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
ByPeter Charalambous ABCNews logo
Feb 25, 2026, 3:33 AM GMT

FACT CHECK: Voter fraud allegations

TRUMP CLAIM: "The cheating is rampant in our elections. It's rampant."

FACT CHECK: False

Trump has repeatedly alleged that undocumented immigrants have improperly influenced federal elections, but state voting data suggest that such instances are incredibly rare.

In 2024, voter roll audits in states including Georgia, Ohio, and Iowa, leading up to the 2024 election, uncovered very few instances of noncitizen voting in federal elections. A comprehensive audit of Georgia's voter rolls -- which include 8.2 million registered voters -- uncovered 20 noncitizens who registered to vote, including nine instances when noncitizens actually cast a ballot. A similar audit of Iowa's 2.3 million voters revealed 87 instances where individuals cast ballots and later self-reported as noncitizens.

According to research from the non-partisan nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research, allegations of sweeping and coordinated voter fraud generally arise from "misunderstandings, mischaracterizations, or outright fabrications about complex voter data," and most instances of voting fraud are rare and swiftly prosecuted by authorities.

ABCNews logo
Feb 25, 2026, 3:31 AM GMT

Trump pushes for Save America Act

President Trump pushed for passage of the Save America Act. His comments animated Republicans in the chamber, nearly all of whom stood and vigorously applauded him.

"It's very simple: All voters show voter ID. All voters must show proof of citizenship," Trump said.

Democrats have said the bill is a nonstarter in the Senate, though Trump has repeatedly put pressure on GOP leaders to ensure it becomes law.