Skip to Content
National Politics

Lawmakers across the country react to President Trump’s State of the Union address

By , ,
today at 9:21 AM
Published 10:35 AM

(KYMA, NBC) - Lawmakers across the country are sharing their reaction to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address.

President Trump delivered the address to Congress Tuesday night to highlight his first year of his second term in office.

At the same time, several Democratic lawmakers boycotted the address by holding a rally on the National Mall.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) each released a statement respectively on their reaction to the president's address to the nation.

"Tonight, Arizonans didn't hear a real plan to lower costs or make their lives better. Instead, they heard more excuses from a president who promised to lower prices on 'day one' but has only made Americans poorer and less safe. 

One year into his presidency, families are paying more at the grocery store. Seniors are struggling to afford their prescription drugs. Small business owners are having trouble keeping their doors open, and President Trump’s illegal tariffs are making it worse. 

While costs go up for working families, his biggest accomplishment last year was handing a giant tax cut to rich people and big corporations, paid for by kicking people off Medicaid, cutting food assistance, and driving up health care costs. 

Donald Trump mentioned a few things I agreed with, like banning stock trading in Congress and stopping hedge funds from buying single-family homes. America would be better off if he focused on working with us to get those done, instead of giving tax breaks to billionaires and enriching himself and his family."

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.)

"Like his entire Presidency, Trump's speech tonight will be remembered for his lies, self-promotion, and total disregard for working families. He lied to us about inflation, while his tariffs have increased costs for all of us. He lied to us about health care, while his policies took away health coverage from millions of Americans. He lied to us about protecting retirees, while he is doing everything he can to dismantle Social Security and Medicare. He lied about only deporting violent criminal immigrants, he is violently targeting mostly non-criminal immigrants and U.S. citizens.

Trump is the most unpopular President in history because Americans faced with skyrocketing costs and a slowing economy know he is responsible.

Trump wants desperately a Nobel Prize, with all his lies, he should try to get one for fiction."

Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.)

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) posted a video on social media, sharing his reaction to the State of the Union address.

In the video, Sen. Lankford pointed to Trump's remarks on Iran saying:

"He shifted over to talk about international policy including the issues in Iran that we are facing, where the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world is working now to rebuild their nuclear weapons capability. We took it out. They started at ground zero and started to rebuild. That's a problem for us and for the entire world, so the challenge is now what do we do about that. and [the] president ended with this really remarkable outline of, 'We're 250 years old…are we just getting started or are we at the end?' And he clearly articulated that we are just getting started. The whole world still looks to the United States for innovation, ideas, and economic activity. We are just getting started as a nation and we have to keep going."

The senator also said he remains optimistic regarding the future of the country.

"Obviously differences of opinion between Republicans and Democrats on lots of issues. Lots of Democrats sitting through the whole speech. Sometimes they would rise on different issues like the hockey team or Medal of Honor winners, but a lot of differences, okay. We are Americans. We are going to have differences of opinions on things. The key thing is: Let's solve the problems. Let's keep moving. I think the president's whole focus was we have solved a lot of problems in the last year. We've got more to go. Let's get them moving."

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.)

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) posted to social media saying, "That was a masterclass from POTUS. His message was crystal clear. To the American people: Your country is safer, stronger and more prosperous than it was just one year ago. To the world: America is back."

Prior to the president addressing the nation, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) also issued the following statement:

"The State of the Union speech is actually not going to be the State of the Union. It's going to be a speech full of lies and excuses. I'd rather spend that time with my family. I have three young kids. I'd rather do productive things for my community. This president does not know how to talk about the country, does not know how to fight for the country. He only knows how to fight for himself."

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) posted to social media saying the president "gave the best and longest State of the Union speech in history because of all the many wins he had to tout."

"In one year, we have reversed the damage we inherited from Biden and the Democrats and we are delivering for the American people," Speaker Johnson added.

Other lawmakers also shared their reaction to Trump's address to the nation:

Article Topic Follows: National Politics

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

Dillon Fuhrman

If you have any story ideas, reach out to him at dillon.fuhrman@kecytv.com.

Author Profile Photo

Jailene Aguilera

Jailene Aguilera joined KYMA in April 2023. She is the anchor/producer for CBS at 6 and 10 pm. If you have any story ideas, contact Jailene at jailene.aguilera@kecytv.com.

NBC News

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.