The Deepening Schism in American Society Is Worrisome

The US President’s annual State of the Union address to Congress became a milestone in the further polarization of domestic political life.

At the same time, an editorial in the Washington Post published on February 22, 2026, about the possibility of significant US financial deterioration (a budget deficit of $1.9 trillion is projected for the current fiscal year, amounting to 5.8% of GDP) caused a stir. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this deficit will increase to $3.1 trillion in 10 years, which would constitute nearly 7% of GDP. This year, the federal debt is expected to exceed 100% of GDP, and by 2036 it will rise to a staggering 120%.

The American public’s general concern is reflected in the ideas of renowned historian Ian Buruma. He argues that fear is spreading in American society, and more and more people are coming to the conclusion that tomorrow will not be better than today, and therefore one must prepare for the worst. Red lines in the US are crossed too often; illegal immigrants are called animals, civilian ships are blown up, American citizens are shot dead on the streets and then accused of terrorism, universities, news organizations, and law firms are subjected to intimidation and blackmail, and refugees are deported to countries whose languages they do not even speak. “And that is aside from the blatant corruption of family and cronies.”

The media constantly promotes the idea that social networks are destroying politics, the ability to concentrate, and culture and are ultimately destroying social cohesion. More and more ordinary Americans perceive the economy negatively. People hate health insurance companies – many seemingly normal people welcomed the murder of health insurance company CEO Brian Thompson.

Nevertheless, Trump’s popularity has remained stable over the past few months: 40% of respondents, according to polls, approve of the president’s activities, although according to the Jerusalem Post (February 24, 2026), the majority of Americans believe that the country’s political leadership is too old.

February 24 State of the Union Address: a step towards deeper internal political struggle

The President’s annual State of the Union address to Congress further polarized the US. Trump boasted about his economic achievements, claiming to have ushered in a golden age, attempting to create an aura of success at a critically important moment in his presidency.

Trump asserted that 12 months ago he inherited a country in crisis, and now the US is the most attractive country in the world. According to him, despite the disappointing Supreme Court ruling on tariffs, the country is still ensuring a steady flow of money through more sophisticated alternative paths. Regarding the flow of the deadly drug fentanyl across the border, Trump stated that it has dropped by a record 56% in a year.

The US President detailed his administration’s achievements since taking office in January 2025, including reducing inflation, crime rates, and illegal immigration. The President spoke for an unprecedentedly long time – nearly two hours – conveying the idea that he had accomplished more in one year than other US presidents. The American press considered this speech the beginning of his November 2026 election campaign.

According to CNN, Trump provoked Democrats and put forward a series of false claims, emphasizing the notion that he had made a “turnaround for the ages.” In this context, the White House head spiritedly presented the US hockey team’s victory over Canada at the Olympic Games as his personal success.

It is noteworthy that more than 20 Democrats boycotted this congressional session, and Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey stated that Trump is trying to undermine their union and that the least they can do is undermine his ratings.

It can be expected that the confrontation in American politics in the coming months will only deepen.

Mohammed Amer, Syrian publicist

Follow new articles on our Telegram channel

© New Eastern Outlook