Twitter reacts to Donald Trump’s first State of the Union
Pageantry and pabulum at Trump’s mammoth message to the nation

Donald Trump gave his first State of the Union address last night - and like everything involving the president, it got tongues wagging.
Characteristically, the 80-minute speech was “80% celebration of what he has done and 20% talking about what he would like to do”, says CNN.
Nonetheless, the lengthy address drew copious applause from the Republicans in the chamber… including Trump himself:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Democratic lawmakers, however, were caught looking markedly less enthused as Trump rattled off his laundry list of achievements:
More than a dozen Democrat lawmakers chose to skip the address, but Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, widely tipped as a potential presidential nominee in 2020, did attend - and she pulled no punches when it came to explaining why:
However, even Trump’s critics could hardly deny that he knows how to put on a show, with the president telling the stories of special guests including a North Korean defector and a police officer who adopted a baby from a heroin addict:
Those familiar with US political protocol (or Netflix) will know that every State of the Union address has a “designated survivor” - a cabinet member who spends the event in a safe location in case of an attack or accident which takes out the president and the immediate line of succession.
Last night, that task fell to Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Although the vast majority of Americans are unfamiliar with Perdue, Trump’s detractors took to him at once:
And some saw the plus-side of having a farmer at the head of the nation in the event of an apocalyptic catastrophe:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - March 30, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - strawberry fields forever, secret files, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 hilariously sparse cartoons about further DOGE cuts
Cartoons Artists take on free audits, report cards, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Following the Tea Horse Road in China
The Week Recommends This network of roads and trails served as vital trading routes
By The Week UK Published
-
Why does Donald Trump want Greenland?
The Explainer Trump is not the only US president who has tried to gain control of Greenland
By The Week UK Published
-
What dangers does the leaked Signal chat expose the US to?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION The White House's ballooning group chat scandal offered a masterclass in what not to say when prying eyes might be watching
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Even authoritarian regimes need a measure of public support — the consent of at least some of the governed'
instant opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
USPS Postmaster General DeJoy steps down
Speed Read Louis DeJoy faced ongoing pressure from the Trump administration as they continue to seek power over the postal system
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'There is a certain kind of strength in refusing to concede error'
instant opinion 'Opinion, comment and editorials of the day'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published