State of the Union updates: Trump spars with Dems, touts economy and immigration

ByAlexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, and Meredith Deliso ABCNews logo
Last updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 5:16AM GMT
Trump spars with Dems, touts economy in State of the Union

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.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
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Feb 25, 2026, 3:37 AM

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.
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.
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Feb 24, 2026, 11:18 PM GMT

Trump hosts USA men's hockey team in Oval Office

President Donald Trump greeted members of the gold medal-winning men's hockey team in the Oval Office on Tuesday, ahead of the State of the Union, photos and videos show.

The USA men's Olympic ice hockey team pose with their gold medals at the White House in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026.
The USA men's Olympic ice hockey team pose with their gold medals at the White House in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026.

The members can be seen filing into the Oval Office wearing their Olympic gold medals around their necks, with some shaking the president's hand, in a video posted on X by one of Trump's top aides, Dan Scavino.

USA men's Olympic ice hockey players Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Mathews lead their teammates along the colonnade at the White House in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026.
USA men's Olympic ice hockey players Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Mathews lead their teammates along the colonnade at the White House in Washington, Feb. 24, 2026.

"I recognize every one of you. I know every one of you," Trump said as the athletes made their way in. The president also laughed that they were "big guys" and congratulated the team.

The athletes were also captured holding up their gold medals while standing around the president at the Resolute Desk, on the South Lawn and making their way down the colonnade during their White House visit.

ByTierra Cunningham ABCNews logo
Feb 24, 2026, 11:20 PM GMT

Virginia Giuffre's brother, Epstein survivors speak out ahead of SOTU

Just hours before President Trump's State of the Union address, Democratic lawmakers and several survivors of Jeffrey Epstein spoke on Capitol Hill to demand more action from the administration.

Sky Roberts, the brother of the late Virginia Roberts Guiffre, called for "Virginia's Law" to be passed by Congress, legislation that seeks to do away with the statute of limitations on sex abuse and trafficking victims' right to sue.

"Virginia's Law is about saying clearly that the rules that protected abusers and traffickers for decades will no longer stand. It's about closing the gaps that powerful people exploit. It is about strengthening accountability so survivors are not forced to fight alone for years against the machine built to wear them down," Sky Roberts said.

Sky and Amanda Roberts will attend Trump's speech as guests by Democratic Reps. Jamie Raskin and Suhas Subramanyam.

Dani Bensky, an Epstein survivor, took aim at the Trump administration and FBI Director Kash Patel. Bensky is attending Trump's speech as a guest of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

"As we prepare to attend the State of the Union, survivors and this country have so many questions that need to be answered. The first one is, where are the rest of the files? The truth must come out. Why are there no investigations when there are plenty of people in these files to investigate?" Bensky said. "This administration needs to do better."

President Trump and the Justice Department have been dogged by questions about the Epstein files and their partial release and redactions. The DOJ said it has complied with the law passed by Congress that forced their release.

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Feb 24, 2026, 10:30 PM GMT

Speaker Johnson will display Washington's gavel during speech

Speaker Mike Johnson will display George Washington's gavel during the State of the Union.

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society says it's the first time the gavel will be displayed during the president's speech to Congress. It will sit on the rostrum in honor the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding.

Washington used the gavel in 1793 to lay the cornerstone of the Capitol building, according to the Historical Society. It's been maintained ever since by the Potomac Lodge No. 5, a Masonic Lodge in Washington, D.C.

"At the Capitol site, Washington stepped into a dug trench, laid a silver plate onto the ground, and set the cornerstone atop it," the Capitol Historical Society wrote in a news release. "He was accompanied by brethren who conducted a Masonic ritual with corn (a symbol of nourishment), wine (a symbol of refreshment), and oil (a symbol of joy). Witnesses then chanted and celebrated until night."

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Feb 24, 2026, 9:58 PM GMT

House Democratic leader invites Jackson family among SOTU guests

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said House Democrats intend to carry on the legacy of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Rep. Jonathan Jackson said former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. and Santita Jackson will be Jeffries' guests.

It's not clear if any other members of the Jackson family would attend.