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Winners and Losers of the State of the Union

President Donald Trump delivering the State of the Union on Tuesday. (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)

Tyler O'Neil / @Tyler2ONeil

Tyler O'Neil is senior editor at The Daily Signal and the author of two books: "Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center," and "The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government."

President Donald Trump repeatedly confronted Democrats for refusing to stand and applaud on multiple occasions in the first official State of the Union address of his second term Tuesday night.

This strategy highlighted the extremism of Democrat policies while championing the people victimized by them.

President Trump drew attention to issues with broad public appeal, such as secure elections, public safety, energy production, and stories of American heroism, while daring Democrats to oppose his actions on these issues.

Here are the winners and losers of the speech.

Winner: Border Security

President Trump celebrated that “in the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted into the United States.”

The Department of Homeland Security has indeed claimed that not one illegal alien has been admitted during that time.

Former President Joe Biden said that he needed legislation from Congress to close the border, but President Trump effectively closed the border on his first day in office.

?ZERO ILLEGALS ADMITTEDPresident Trump took a well-deserved victory lap on the border and crime pic.twitter.com/osUk5Y1QKK— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

?ZERO ILLEGALS ADMITTEDPresident Trump took a well-deserved victory lap on the border and crime pic.twitter.com/osUk5Y1QKK

President Trump noted that “American oil production is up more than 600,000 barrels per day” and that the United States received from Venezuela—which he called “our new friend and partner”—more than 80 million barrels of oil.

Trump also touted cutting “a record number of job-killing regulations.”

Under Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency rescinded the Endangerment Finding, the centerpiece of federal regulation on oil and gas.

??ENERGY UNLEASHEDPresident Trump noted that "American oil production is up more than 600,000 barrels per day" and that the U.S. received from Venezuela—which he called "our new friend and partner"—more than 80 million barrels of oil.Trump also touted cutting "a record number… pic.twitter.com/w221X1MhF8— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

??ENERGY UNLEASHEDPresident Trump noted that "American oil production is up more than 600,000 barrels per day" and that the U.S. received from Venezuela—which he called "our new friend and partner"—more than 80 million barrels of oil.Trump also touted cutting "a record number… pic.twitter.com/w221X1MhF8

President Trump commemorated Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, and honored his widow, Erika Kirk.

“Charlie was violently murdered by an assassin, and martyred—really martyred for his beliefs,” he said. “His wonderful wife, Erika, is with us tonight.”

“In Charlie’s memory, we must all come together to reaffirm that America is one nation under God, and we must totally reject political violence of any kind,” the president added.

Candace Owens is slandering @MrsErikaKirk, but President Trump rightly honors the bereaved widow at the State of the Union."Thank you Erika. … In Charlie’s memory we must all come together to reaffirm that America is one nation under God, and we must totally reject political… pic.twitter.com/9bClCKRMZo— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

Candace Owens is slandering @MrsErikaKirk, but President Trump rightly honors the bereaved widow at the State of the Union."Thank you Erika. … In Charlie’s memory we must all come together to reaffirm that America is one nation under God, and we must totally reject political… pic.twitter.com/9bClCKRMZo

President Trump celebrated the victories of Team USA men’s and women’s hockey teams over the Canadian teams in the Olympics. He also presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to men’s goaltender Connor Hellebuyck for his “amazing saves” that “helped beat Canada in overtime.”

The men’s team attended the State of the Union address, while Trump announced that the women’s team would visit the White House.

?PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOMTrump awards Team USA?? goalie Connor Hellebuyck the highest civilian honor for his victory over Canada?? in the Olympics pic.twitter.com/M3CkhLubT2— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

?PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOMTrump awards Team USA?? goalie Connor Hellebuyck the highest civilian honor for his victory over Canada?? in the Olympics pic.twitter.com/M3CkhLubT2

Loser: Affordability Messaging

President Trump flipped the script on the Democrats’ “affordability” messaging.

He mentioned the “record-setting inflation” of the Biden years. “Now, the same people in this chamber who voted for those disasters suddenly used the word ‘affordability.'”

“Somebody gave it to them, knowing full well that they caused and created the increased prices that all of our citizens had to endure,” Trump said. Looking at the Democrats, he said, “You caused that problem.”

“They knew their statements were a dirty, rotten lie,” Trump said. “Their policies created the high prices. Our policies are rapidly ending them.”

Prices continue to increase, but the rate of inflation has slowed considerably, and real wages are outpacing inflation.

?FLIPPING THE SCRIPT ON AFFORDABILITYPresident Trump flips the script on affordability—blaming Democrats for inflation? and noting that the increase in prices has cooled. Then he slams the "Unaffordable Care Act." pic.twitter.com/rXgFV7Fj7V— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

?FLIPPING THE SCRIPT ON AFFORDABILITYPresident Trump flips the script on affordability—blaming Democrats for inflation? and noting that the increase in prices has cooled. Then he slams the "Unaffordable Care Act." pic.twitter.com/rXgFV7Fj7V

When calling for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act to require ID to vote, Trump mentioned New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling him “a nice guy” but attacking him for hypocrisy.

He noted that Mamdani is requiring emergency snow shovel workers in New York City to present ID, but Democrats “don’t want identification for the greatest privilege of all, voting in America.”

TRUMP SLAMS MAMDANIThe president notes that the NYC mayor requires ID for people who will shovel snow, but "they don't want identification for the greatest privilege of all, voting in America.""NO GOOD." pic.twitter.com/mYs92vUuqK— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

TRUMP SLAMS MAMDANIThe president notes that the NYC mayor requires ID for people who will shovel snow, but "they don't want identification for the greatest privilege of all, voting in America.""NO GOOD." pic.twitter.com/mYs92vUuqK

Loser: Democrats Refusing to Stand

President Trump repeatedly chided Democrats in the chamber for refusing to stand and applaud for good policies or for the people he was honoring.

Trump urged Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security, stating, “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

After Republicans cheered and applauded, Trump chided Democrats for not joining.

“Isn’t that a shame? You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up,” he said.

?YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELFPresident Trump slams Democrats for refusing to stand for the Department of Homeland Security, which the Dems are refusing to fund."You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up." pic.twitter.com/wmWlHzRBOL— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

?YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELFPresident Trump slams Democrats for refusing to stand for the Department of Homeland Security, which the Dems are refusing to fund."You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up." pic.twitter.com/wmWlHzRBOL

When honoring Sage Blair, who was separated from her parents after her school hid her transgender identity, Trump faulted Democrats who refused to stand. Blair’s family claimed she became a victim of sex trafficking after she was separated from her family.

“Look, nobody stands up,” he noted. “These people are crazy. I’m telling you. They’re crazy.”

?'PEDOPHILE!'A Democrat responds to President Trump's important retelling of Sage Blair's story—getting victimized by the transgender cult—by shouting "Pedophile!"Trump doesn't even dignify it with a response. pic.twitter.com/UbS44A1vSc— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

?'PEDOPHILE!'A Democrat responds to President Trump's important retelling of Sage Blair's story—getting victimized by the transgender cult—by shouting "Pedophile!"Trump doesn't even dignify it with a response. pic.twitter.com/UbS44A1vSc

Trump urged Americans to “ensure that members of Congress cannot corruptly profit from using insider trading” on the stock market. When some Democrats stood up to applaud, the president responded with shock.

“They stood up for that. I can’t believe it,” he said. He asked whether former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has invited scrutiny for reaping large profits in the stock market, also applauded.

“Did Nancy Pelosi stand up, if she’s here? I doubt it,” Trump said. “Pass the Stop Insider Trading Act without delay.”

“I wasn’t sure if anybody even on this side was going to applaud for that,” the president noted. “I’m very impressed. Thank you.”

?BURNPresident Trump expressed surprise that Democrats stood to applaud a ban on insider trading. He thanked them for standing, but he also got in a dig."Did Nancy Pelosi stand up, if she's here? I doubt it," he quipped. pic.twitter.com/1Ap16ByCx2— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

?BURNPresident Trump expressed surprise that Democrats stood to applaud a ban on insider trading. He thanked them for standing, but he also got in a dig."Did Nancy Pelosi stand up, if she's here? I doubt it," he quipped. pic.twitter.com/1Ap16ByCx2

President Trump also shamed Democrats for refusing to stand for Anna Zarutska, the mother of the Ukrainian refugee Irina Zarutska who was murdered on a light rail train in Charlotte last year by a homeless man with a criminal record.

“How do you not stand? How do you not stand?” he asked.

HOW DO YOU NOT STAND??President Trump shamed Democrats for refusing to stand for Anna Zarutska, the mother of the poor cook who was killed by an illegal alien. "How do you not stand? How do you not stand?" pic.twitter.com/xXtZywGFG1— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026

HOW DO YOU NOT STAND??President Trump shamed Democrats for refusing to stand for Anna Zarutska, the mother of the poor cook who was killed by an illegal alien. "How do you not stand? How do you not stand?" pic.twitter.com/xXtZywGFG1

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Read the first chapter of The Woketopus right now for FREE

Today, even with President Trump’s victory, leftist elites have their tentacles in every aspect of our government.

The Daily Signal’s own Tyler O’Neil exposes this leftist cabal in his new book, The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government.

In this book, O’Neil reveals how the Left’s NGO apparatus pursues its woke agenda, maneuvering like an octopus by circumventing Congress and entrenching its interests in the federal government.

You can read the first chapter of this new book for FREE in this eBook, The Woketopus: Chapter One using the secure link below.

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