U.S. President Donald Trump delivered what is considered the longest State of the Union address in history on Tuesday evening, declaring the first year of his second term a resounding success before a joint session of Congress. The more than two-hour speech was delivered in a triumphant tone, but was also marked by protests from Democratic lawmakers, heated exchanges, and persistent low public approval, according to The Guardian.

The president spoke at a time when the United States is preparing for November's congressional elections, and polls show weakening voter confidence in his administration. Current surveys indicate that less than 40 percent of Americans view his performance positively, with criticism primarily focused on the economic situation and immigration policy.

Trump repeatedly claimed in his speech that he had revitalized the country after the presidency of his predecessor, Joe Biden, and that the United States was experiencing a "turning point for generations."

He emphasized the economic measures taken by his administration, but presented only a limited number of new legislative plans. He announced, for example, the creation of an initiative to combat fraud, which will be led by Vice President JD Vance, and spoke about measures to protect households from rising electricity costs associated with the expansion of data centers.

The atmosphere in the chamber was tense. Some Democratic lawmakers demonstratively walked out, while others held protest signs or directly challenged the president. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar accused the president's immigration policy of causing the deaths of American citizens during a security operation in Minnesota. Democratic Senator Mark Warner later said that he left the chamber because he refused to listen to "hours of false statements."

The tension also extended to the relationship between the White House and the Supreme Court. Several of its justices were present in the chamber shortly after the court limited the president's ability to impose tariffs through executive powers. Trump called the decision a "disappointment," but his criticism was significantly milder than his remarks about Democrats, whom he repeatedly called "crazy."

The president devoted only a limited amount of time to foreign policy. He mentioned the growing tensions with Iran and said that he prefers a diplomatic solution, but also emphasized that he would never allow that country to acquire nuclear weapons. However, he did not provide specific details about his administration's actions.

A significant portion of the speech consisted of symbolic moments and guests in the gallery of the House of Representatives. The president honored Olympic winners, soldiers, and veterans, and personally awarded a Medal of Honor to one participant in the Korean War. He also mentioned an operation aimed at apprehending Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, during which an American pilot was injured.

Democrats responded with what has been described as a "silent resistance," largely refraining from applauding the speech. The official response from the opposition was delivered by Governor Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, who sharply criticized the president's policies and asked the audience whether the president was truly working in their interests.

The speech thus presented two contrasting images of America: while Trump portrayed a period of renewed strength and success, the political reality in Washington suggests a deep division within society ahead of crucial elections that could determine the future direction of American politics.

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