Trump Declares 'Golden Age of America' in State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump declared "this is the golden age of America" in his first State of the Union address of his second term, touting economic and immigration policy achievements.

"America is bigger, better, wealthier, and stronger than ever before," Trump told a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on Monday evening.

"When I addressed this Congress 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis," he said. "A struggling economy, inflation at record highs, an uncontrolled border, severe manpower shortages in our military and police, crime rampant at home, and war and chaos around the world."

"But tonight, just one year later, I can say proudly and confidently that we have achieved a transformation unlike anything anyone has ever seen, a historic turnaround," Trump added. "We will never go back to what we were just a short time ago. Today, we are not going back."

The president claimed the nation's borders are now secure, inflation has fallen sharply, incomes are rising rapidly, and the economy is "running stronger than ever."

"Our enemies are afraid. Our military and police have been fully strengthened, and America is respected again," he said.

Trump highlighted that his administration lowered core inflation to its lowest level in more than five years, falling to 1.7% in the final three months of 2025.

He also cited oil imports from Venezuela as an achievement and declared that "diversity, equity, and inclusion policies have ended."

While Trump delivered an address to Congress on March 4 last year shortly after his January inauguration, that speech was not an official State of the Union address.

With midterm elections approaching in November, Trump is expected to leverage his policy achievements on the economy and immigration to appeal to voters.