State of the Union updates: Trump spars with Dems, touts economy and immigration
ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, and Meredith Deliso
Last updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 5:16AM GMT
President Donald Trump declared during Tuesday's marathon State of the Union that "we're winning so much," saying he'd sparked a jobs and manufacturing boom at home while imposing a new world order abroad - hoping that offering a long list of his accomplishments can counter approval ratings that have been falling.
For the president, the high-profile speech was a chance to make the case directly to millions of Americans ahead of November's midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake.
Fact check of President Trump's State of the Union address
Just over a year into his second term, President Donald Trump is delivering the State of the Union address, making his case for sweeping policy changes and executive actions that have come to define America's current moment.
ABC News is live fact-checking some of the president's statements that may be exaggerated, need more context or are false.
Go here for a look at the full fact check from ABC News.
President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.
Feb 24, 2026, 9:52 PM GMT
Democratic women and their guests wearing 'suffragette white' to confront Trump
The women of the House Democratic Women's Caucus and their guests, including a number of survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse, are dressing in all white for the address this evening, modeling themselves after the early 20th-century women who pressed for the right to vote and other rights.
"Tonight, when Donald Trump looks out into the chamber, he will see a wall of white," said Democratic Rep. Jill Tokuda of Hawaii.
Some lawmakers are also wearing pins that express support for Epstein survivors and call for the release of case files on Epstein that do not redact information on his associates.
"We are standing here in solidarity so that we are not forgotten," said Sharlene Rochard, one of the survivors,
ByHannah Demissie and Benjamin Siegel
Feb 24, 2026, 9:47 PM GMT
Virginia governor to focus on affordability in response to State of the Union
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democrats' response to the State of the Union address. She will focus on affordability and the chaos she said the Trump administration has caused at home and abroad, the governor's team told reporters Tuesday.
Spanberger will discuss lowering the persistently high costs of housing, health care, energy and groceries despite the administration's insistence that some of these costs have come down.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks during inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol in Richmond Va., Saturday Jan. 17, 2026.
Spanberger, a former CIA officer, will also address how she says the Trump administration is contributing to greater worldwide uncertainty.
ByElizabeth Schulze, Emily Kohlberg and Will Steakin
Feb 24, 2026, 8:26 PM GMT
Trump expected to announce deal with tech companies over data centers: Sources
Trump is expected to announce an agreement with top tech companies during the State of the Union in an attempt to address a key factor shaping Americans' perceptions of affordability: rising electric bills, multiple sources told ABC News.
President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington.
The agreement would see tech companies behind the AI boom pledge to cover costs associated with the build out of new data centers so they don't increase household electricity prices, according to the sources.
Electricity prices are up 6.3% in the past year, according to the latest government data.
Trump is expected to say the companies have committed to "pay their own way" so electricity prices don't rise for consumers, the sources said. Specific details of the deal remain unclear ahead of the planned announcement.
Feb 24, 2026, 8:15 PM GMT
White House working on logistics for men's hockey team to attend
The White House, after images emerged of a government plane transporting athletes from the gold medal-winning men's hockey team to Washington, said it was working "through logistics so that members of Team USA may attend tonight."
"Tune in!" a White House official said.
U.S. players pose for pictures with the jersey of the late Johnny Gaudreau after their win in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters earlier Tuesday, "We'll squeeze in the hockey players tonight and it'll be a great moment for America."
The U.S. women's hockey team also won Olympic gold and the team was later invited to the State of the Union, but declined the invitation.
