Posted February 25th, 2026 at 9:45 amNo Comments Yet
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UNITED STATES PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, STREAMED ON PARAMOUNT+, CBS, HOST TONY DOKOUPIL, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026, 6 PM PST, RUNTIME 1 h 47m
TRUMP BREAKS TIME RECORD BUT HAS TO REPEAT TRIED AND TRUE VITRIOL TO GET THERE
by Peter T. Busch
United States President Donald J. Trump has been talking non-stop since his Presidential run in 2015. And that talking continued Tuesday night on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
Time estimates for the duration of the traditional State of the Union Address ranged from a lengthy 90 minutes to way too long at 2 hours plus.
The outside range was confirmed with the White House releasing an advance copy of the speech to the press 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the State of the Union Address on Prime Time television.
In celebration of the 250 Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, Trump attempted to break a record by delivered the longest address to Congress in the 250 year history of the country.
Trump spent a lot of the evening giving out Presidential Awards to civilians and military personnel, while making a presidential record, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
The Presidential Procession left the White House at 5:32 pm PST. Mr. President and the First Lady travelled a few blocks from the White House to Capitol Hill in an armored limousine, know affectionately as “The Beast”.
On hearing word of the approaching motorcade, Speaker of the House, Mike Johnston, called the meeting to order with the Senate entering the Chamber at 5:36 pm PST.
As for any record, the time had to be verified by witnesses. CBS news anchor Tony Dokoupil and CBS Senior Washington correspondents speculated as to who would or would not be present to bare witness.
Senior CBS White House correspondent Ed O’Keef would eventually be put in charge of calling the event from the floor of the Chamber.
50 Democrats boycotted the political games on Capitol Hill, eventhough part of their job as Representatives of the People is to be present and provide feedback on the speech to constituents, often by speaking to the Press after the address during Prime Time coverage.
The Epstein Survivors were represented in the Chamber by the Family of Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre, who was one of the original victims to go public with the allegations, committed suicide last year.
The uncertainty of whether or not the 9 Justices of the Supreme court of the United States would attend was just too much for CBS correspondent Major Garrett. Whether the Supreme Court Justices would appear was a recurring issue for about 30 minutes until four of the 9 members of the highest court, wearing traditional black robes, entered and took their seats.
US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts attended. After the Chief Justice, all other justices are referred to as Associate Justices, with Associate Justices Elena Kagan, Brett Cavanagh and Amy Coney Barrett attending, and all 4 seemingly prepared, although begrudgingly after the President’s scathing rebuke to their no-tariffs decision, to certify the event.
Vice President J. D. Vance took his seat next to Speaker Mike Johnston, which is behind the podium where the President addresses the Chamber.
Where will the US hockey team sit? The late invitees had to be in the gallery for security reasons, but the gallery had been sold out as interest was high to watch the attempt at the record, long in advance of the Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Game.
The Trump Administration’s Cabinet arrived, as did the Military War Counsel, although the Generals always seem to find their seats by stealth, with the Prime Time Television audience not being shown how and when they enter the Chamber.
Then Trump entered and ran the aisle on the way to the podium in a traditional way commonly used by Presidents, with handshakes and fist air pumps, hugs and selfies.
The American vitriol began at 6:12 pm PST with a self-referential moment when Trump mentioned the key theme to his 2025 Address to the Joint Session of Congress, stating the nation was entering the ‘Golden Age of America’.
“We‘re going to do better and better and better,” President Trump chortled.
Trump then stated that he had inherited a country in crisis, from the Democrats and the previous Presidential Administration.
What came next was a list of accomplishments that will need to be individually verified, given Mr. President’s record of hyperbole, exaggerations and use of untruths, while simultaneously claiming other folks are engaged in fake news.
The 4 Justices present didn’t seem interested in being assigned the task of verifying the President’s claims. As in any contract, time seemed to be of the essence.
TIME WAS IN THE ESSENSE
For example, Trump claimed that “0” illegal aliens were allowed into the country over the last 9 months. Trump has hung his shingle on securing the border. In Trump’s first term, 2016-2020, the Administration was over-consumed with the idea of building a wall along the southern border with Mexico. Trump’s second term has been about finding and deporting all those migrants who entered the country illegally in his absence, during the Administration of President Joe Biden, 2021-2025.
Trump only wants to let in people who lawfully participate in the immigration process. “I will always allow people to enter legally: people who love our country and will work hard to maintain our country,” Trump chortled.
The list of accomplishments continued, with the importation of fentanyl being down 56%, while the Stock Market being up to record highs was underscored.
And inflation is down to 1.7%, while direct investment in America has reached $18 trillion, all of which has been achieved over the last 12 months since Trump took office.
Trump repeated his oft used statement that America is the hottest country anywhere in the world, like a hot piece of real estate property.
American oil production is up by 600,000 barrels per day.
And America received 80 million barrels from Venezuela, after conducting a military operation and arresting Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro for allegedly facilitated the drug cartels and the importation of drugs into the United States.
The United States Olympic Hockey Team entered the gallery at 6:34 pm PST. Trump awarded Olympic goalie Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor, and is commonly given to athletes.
Trump also gave out Purple Hearts, a recognition for being wounded or killed during military service, to Virginia National Guards, Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and Army Specialists Sarah Beckstrom, who were ambushed while on patrol, during Trump’s occupy Washington campaign against street crime. Beckstrom died from her wounds.
The pilot of the lead Chinook helicopter in the Venezuelan Madura capture operation, Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, received the Presidential military honor, the Medal of Honour.
Trump showed immense pride in giving out these and other awards to Americans that ought to be emulated for their bravery and commitment to America. At the same time, although not in the same breath, Trump slammed supporters of undocumented migrants who were engaging in crimes against American citizens while in the country illegally.
TRUMP LICENSING HIS NAME
Trump was putting his name on as much Americana as possible ahead of this year’s America at 250 Celebrations. The Administration has set up government accounts that begin with “Trump” such as Trumprx.gov and Trumpaccounts.gov.
Trumprx is the lower prescription drugs program, while Trumpaccounts are investment accounts set up for American children. Michael and Susan Dell donated $6.25 billion to the investment accounts.
Trump has always put his name on everything, including his buildings, and even licensing his name to buildings he does not own. And Trump, as President, puts his name on everything, just like he did as a real estate mogul.
The final political rattle came against fraud and corruption in America. Extraordinary payments to Health Care insurance companies under Obamacare, and high prescription drug prices were part of this closing barrage of allegations.
“Corruption is plundering America,” Trump exclaimed.
Trump handed out more awards and then began a wrap about the America 250 Celebration with a reference to Thomas Jefferson, the drafter of the Declaration of Independence having died 200 years ago on July 4, 1826.
The Longest Day in US Congressional history then ended at 7:59 pm PST.
