Historians Split on Trump’s 100-Minute State of the Union Address

By John Gizzi
Wednesday, 25 February 2026 08:00 AM EST

On Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump delivered a 100-minute State of the Union address that drew varied reactions from historians.

Chapman University Professor Luke Nichter, author of “1968: The Year That Broke Politics,” described the speech as having elements of a typical annual address but also surprising components. He noted that the speech listed past achievements and proposed new initiatives such as ending sanctuary cities, the SAVE America Act, and launching a “war on fraud” under Vice President JD Vance. Nichter emphasized the speech’s focus on celebrating heroic Americans—from Olympic hockey teams to military personnel throughout history and survivors of violent crimes.

Nichter added that Trump effectively utilized political drama, outperforming previous presidents in this regard. Unlike past State of the Union addresses, Democrats did not attempt to match his energy—no coordinated outfits, loud chants requiring intervention by the Speaker, or synchronized signs. He also mentioned that Representative Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted from the chamber early in the evening.

Irwin Gellman, currently working on a fourth volume about Richard Nixon, stated Trump performed well. Gellman observed that Democrats sat quietly during the address without applauding when Republicans clapped, which enhanced Trump’s message. He praised Trump’s announcement of two Medals of Honor and his effectiveness in promoting domestic policies such as affordable healthcare and 401(k) accounts.

Christopher Whipple, author of “The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency,” took a critical view. Whipple noted that Trump “completely whiffed” on the address because it failed to address key issues like affordability or Jeffrey Epstein, instead focusing on dystopian scenarios and demonizing opponents. He warned this could lead to a Republican defeat in the 2026 midterm elections.

In contrast, Quincy University (Ill.) Professor Justin Coffey, author of a biography of former Vice President Spiro Agnew, called Trump’s address “aggressive, confident, and defiant.” Coffey highlighted Trump’s defense of his record, including claims that the “One Big Beautiful Bill” had succeeded and private sector job growth reached 100%. He also noted Trump’s direct address to the Supreme Court. Coffey stated that an estimated 50 Democratic lawmakers did not attend the address and predicted Democrats would continue this pattern, adding that it would be interesting to see how many Republicans would stay away when the next Democrat delivered a State of the Union speech—since the address is supposed to be nonpartisan but had been compromised by Democrats’ actions.

The address concluded with a call to commemorate the U.S. 250th anniversary in July, featuring what Nichter described as “arguably the most poetic passage” of any Trump address—inspiring and optimistic while challenging the nation to look toward the future.