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How the Heartland Is Reacting to Trump’s State of the Union

President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on Feb. 24, 2026. (Kenny Holston-Pool via Getty Images)

Rebecca Downs / @RebeccaRoseGold

Rebecca Downs is the Ohio correspondent for The Daily Signal. Send an email to Rebecca.

President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address sent shockwaves across Capitol Hill this week as he outlined an aggressive legislative agenda for Republicans in Congress.

In Ohio—a state that encapsulates the MAGA shift in the Republican Party—the president’s call to action and his patriotic rallying cry did not fall on deaf ears.

The Daily Signal spoke to Ohioans about their views on Trump’s speech and the moment that grabbed their attention.

Trump Calls Out Democrats on Illegal Immigration

Deborah Oberlin, a local realtor in the Canton area, told The Daily Signal that she was “very disappointed” in Democrats for refusing to stand when Trump asked members to stand up if they agreed with the following statement: “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

The president shamed Democrats for not standing.

Oberlin noted that Democrats might not like Trump, but focused more so on how their constituents or those guests might feel.

“How would you feel if it was one one of your kids?” Oberlin wondered, seeking a nonpartisan appreciation for such guests who lost children. “That hit me really hard,” she added.

Oberlin said her disappointment in Democrats went beyond immigration to their refusal to stand for the military and family members who were injured or killed by criminals.

Matt Dole, chairman of the Licking County Republican Party, said Democrats sitting in disagreement with the president on illegal immigrants was “the moment of the speech.”

Drew Carchedi, Mahoning County Republican Party Central Committee chairman and general manager for his family’s retail mattress business, Sleepy Hollow Sleep Shops, told The Daily Signal, “All I continue to hear from friends, family, and members of our party is, ‘Look at what Democrats did not stand for.’”

Trump’s speech defended the administration’s deportation efforts and presented an aggressive immigration agenda, including ending sanctuary cities.

Hilary Jackson, the legislative chair of Moms for Liberty Ohio, referred to “the push to ban sanctuary cities” as “deeply significant.”

Trump’s Economic Message Hits Home

Oberlin told The Daily Signal that she was enthusiastic about Trump’s vision for the American economy, especially when it comes to housing because of her occupation.

During his address, Trump noted that “lower interest rates will solve the Biden-created housing problem, while at the same time protecting the values of those people who already own a house that really feel rich for the first time in their lives.”

The president is “dead on,” Oberlin said, regarding home buying.

“Real estate is booming, OK, it’s starting to get there,” Oberlin added. In her profession, she noted that she’s seen interest rates going down and people are increasingly able to afford to buy a house.

Carchedi said the economic and immigration message resonated with the grassroots.

“From a grassroots perspective here in Ohio, the State of the Union wasn’t about applause lines. It was about whether working families and small businesses feel relief and renewed opportunities. In communities like ours, economic policy isn’t abstract. It shows up in freight costs, insurance premiums, utilities, payroll, and whether families can afford groceries and fuel,” he told The Daily Signal.

“The State of the Union exuded strength, not managed decline,” he added, noting that “that message matters. People don’t want drama. They want direction and opportunity.”

Miriam Navarro, a Franklin County resident who described herself as a legal immigrant from Colombia, was similarly inspired by what she referred to as “an excellent speech.”

“It’s wonderful to hear our country is improving regarding the economy, security, and laws in general,” Navarro added, noting she “saw strong leadership with good results.”

Carchedi stressed that it was “one of the most impactful State of the Union addresses in [his] lifetime.” He specifically praised how Trump’s “address signaled a belief that America’s best days are ahead and not behind us.”

That sentiment was shared by Mahoning County Young Republican President James Mullarkey, who echoed that the address was “an unapologetic celebration of America in its 250th year,” with “optimism and strong justification for why America’s best days are still ahead of us.”

According to a graphic presented during “The Tony Kinnett Cast,” the president spent 30 minutes on patriotic material, more than any other topic.

Vance to Attack Fraud

Vice President JD Vance received special mention during the speech, as he was named by Trump as the leader on “the war on fraud,” which Dole said is “great for [Vance],” as it will help “his resume heading into 2028.”

NEW?: @VP just announced he is withholding Medicaid reimbursement from MN during the fraud investigation. I asked him if this should be viewed as a playbook for fighting fraud in other states. "I think you can, certainly. There are certain things that we're doing in… pic.twitter.com/4ehGLCbl2O— Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell (@TheElizMitchell) February 25, 2026

NEW?: @VP just announced he is withholding Medicaid reimbursement from MN during the fraud investigation. I asked him if this should be viewed as a playbook for fighting fraud in other states. "I think you can, certainly. There are certain things that we're doing in… pic.twitter.com/4ehGLCbl2O

This was Jackson’s “biggest takeaway” and what she’s “most encouraged by.”

“That’s especially important to Ohioans. After the massive Somali fraud scheme in Minneapolis was brought to light, it’s clear that oversight and accountability matter. Columbus has the second-largest Somali migrant population in the country, and there have already been allegations of fraud locally. Ensuring investigations are thorough and transparent protects taxpayers and strengthens public trust,” Jackson shared about Vance, referring to him as “Ohio’s own.”

Midterm Ramifications

Mullarkey praised “the optics” of the speech. He believes Trump “drew a stark line,” with Democrats and thinks their performative opposition “will not bode well for the Democrats in the months ahead of midterms.”

Dole said the speech laid out a midterm message for Trump and Republicans.

“‘Hey, I’m out there being attacked, and I better defend my achievements over the last year,’” Dole said to summarize the president’s speech.

This especially applies to the economy, as Dole shared that Trump “went into his speech defending his economic record” before the midterms.

Some Didn’t Bother Watching

Others were not as enthused with Trump and avoided watching the speech altogether.

“I just don’t like him, I don’t like how he treats people,” a woman named Krista said of the president.

“I don’t like how he talks bad about other people … I think he’s racist and I don’t agree with [Immigration and Customs Enforcement],” she added.

Some also took issue with the length of the speech.

Dole told The Daily Signal he would have preferred if Trump had shown “a little restraint in terms of the timing.” Yet, Dole acknowledged that Trump is “a showman” and praised his command of the 80%-20% issues, like men playing women’s sports, that helped him win in 2024.

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