5 key highlights from Trump’s ‘State of the Union’ speech

Donald Trump, the 47th president of the United States addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, 4th March 2025, marking his first since reclaiming office. The speech exceeded 90 minutes, making it the longest in over 60 years.

According to the American Presidency Project, which has been tracking speech lengths since 1964, the speech surpassed former President Bill Clinton’s 2000 State of the Union address, which lasted 88 minutes.

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During the speech, Trump declared that “America is back,” he touted his actions over the past six weeks of his second term, highlighting a series of executive orders and laying out an ambitious legislative agenda. The session was filled with applause from Republicans and protests from Democrats, with one being escorted out for interrupting the president. Several others staged walkouts, while some quietly displayed protest signs.

Throughout the speech, the president praised the efforts of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) task force for their significant cuts across the executive branch. The president reserved his comments on Ukraine, the Middle East, and national security for the final moments of his address. When he addressed these topics, he largely revisited familiar themes, reiterating his desire to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal while describing the Ukraine war as a devastating war of attrition that must be ended.

Analysts noted that Trump took a more combative approach, largely mocking and dismissing democrats throughout his address as though still on the campaign trail, unlike his predecessor, Joe Biden, who sought to build bipartisan support and engage with Republicans. Trump used the speech to highlight early wins to rally his conservative base. However, the coming months will provide a clearer picture of the direction his second term will take as he works to push his legislative agenda and fulfill his promises to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

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Some analysts described the speech as more of a Trump-style political rally than an uplifting call for unity. They noted that his primary aim appeared to be reinforcing his vision of America to his core supporters, particularly those who voted for him and the Republican Party. Others compared the speech to Trump’s 2017 “American Carnage” inaugural address, rather than the tone typically seen in a State of the Union.

Here are the 5 key highlights from the speech.

Zelensky signals readiness to sign minerals deal

The most significant moment of Trump’s speech came near the end when he revealed that he had received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In the letter, Zelensky indicated his willingness to sign a minerals deal, just days after a tense Oval Office confrontation and Trump’s freeze of U.S. aid to Ukraine.
“The letter says Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer,” Trump stated.
“I appreciate that he sent this letter. I just received it a little while ago,” he added.

Democrats protest quietly

Democrats, except U.S. Rep. Al Green of Texas, who was escorted out, largely protested Trump’s address through silent demonstrations, such as signs, messages on T-shirts, whiteboards, and walkouts.
This varied approach, according to analysts, shows that the party is still uncertain on how to respond effectively to Trump.

Trump described the Middle East as a challenging region

Trump referred to the Middle East as a “rough neighborhood,” but offered little detail on his controversial proposal to “take over” Gaza and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”, a plan that has faced strong opposition from both Middle Eastern allies and aid organizations.
This idea stood in stark contrast to his remarks about Greenland, where he declared, “We’re eventually going to get it,” and his ongoing criticism of the Panama Canal deal, claiming it was unfair and that the canal should be under U.S. control.

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Trump criticized his predecessor

Trump consistently placed the blame for issues such as rising egg prices and signs of a slowing economy squarely on his predecessor, Joe Biden. He repeatedly criticized the previous administration, calling it a disaster and describing the withdrawal from Afghanistan as one of the darkest moments in American history.

Trump on his assassination attempts

Trump recalled the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, highlighting the family of the man who was killed in the shooting as his guests. He further stated that he believes he was chosen to “make America great again.”
In summary, Trump framed his administration’s actions—such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and eliminating “the poison of critical race theory from public schools”—as part of a “common sense revolution” that he claimed is “sweeping the world.”