Historians Rate Trump on State of the Union

NewsMax ^ | 02/25/2026 | John Gizzi

[thegagline]

No sooner had President Donald Trump completed his State of the Union address Tuesday night than four much-respected historians offered Newsmax some provocative analysis of the 100-minute speech***

***” President Trump's State of the Union had elements of the usual annual address to Congress but also some surprises," said*** Luke Nichter***

Portions of it, Nichter said, "took the usual grab bag approach to listing past achievements and suggesting a few new proposals — ending sanctuary cities, the SAVE America Act, and a new 'war on fraud' to be led by Vice President [JD] Vance. Otherwise, the biggest portion was celebrating the achievements of heroic Americans, whether the men's Olympic Hockey Team, those in military uniform from World War II to the present, or survivors of violent crimes."

Making a point that "all politicians understand political drama, and Trump utilizes it better than most," Nichter noted that "unlike previous State of the Unions, Democrats did not really try to match him — no color-coordinated outfits, no loud chants that had to be calmed by the Speaker, and no synchronized signs."

He added that even Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, "was escorted to the door by the Parliamentarian early in the evening." *** Irwin Gellman*** said: "Trump could not have done much better than he did."Congressional Democrats "could not have done more for Trump than they did when, while Republicans clapped, the Democrats just sat there and didn't even applaud. This enhanced what he was doing, which was calling the Democrats nutty." *** Christopher Whipple *** reached another conclusion.

"*** Donald Trump completely whiffed tonight in his State of the Union address," Whipple said. "Remarkably, he stayed on script. The trouble was the script, which failed to convincingly address affordability or [Jeffrey] Epstein or any of the pressing issues of the day. ***

---

TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: clap; silence; sitdown; standup

[thegagline]

The definitive moment was when Trump asked congress members to stand if they agree with the statement, “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens."

The Republicans stood while the Democrats sat. A perfect defining moment for Trump, the Republicans, and America. Make that a commercial and the Republicans will win in 2026.

Trump did a brilliant job.

[subterfuge]

Masterful on Trump’s part. I do get tired of the standing and clapping, but I could have watched another hour of him and I rarely ever watch entire SOTU speeches, including his.

[READINABLUESTATE]

So sick of Epstein.

[teeman8r]

“*** Donald Trump completely whiffed tonight in his State of the Union address,” Whipple said. “Remarkably, he stayed on script. The trouble was the script, which failed to convincingly address affordability or [Jeffrey] Epstein or any of the pressing issues of the day. ***

Whipple has squeezed the charmin of history... and totally whiffed on what is historic...

Trump bashed the dems and they would have screamed no mas, but they like being beaten... like the dogs they are.

[bray]

They misspelled Communist Propagandists.

[Beowulf9]

He said the SOTU was going to be long. Was it? I didn’t mind, in fact it was enjoyable.

Afterwards I turned on Fox news and thought it was the highlights of the SOTU...

and I watched the whole thing again!

Very inspirational SOTU. I felt encouraged to love America, not hate it as the left wing rags out there would have you do.

Thank you for an enjoyable evening, Mr. President 🥰

[GaryCrow]

Trump was in his element last night. He's a master at working a forum like that where he can put them in a position to look like chumps and they have no recourse other than to take it.

The democrats came off as America hating scum (which they are) and all they could do is sit there and suck on their dentures.

[thegagline]

I normally read the transcripts of these types of speeches. With Trump, it is not just the words he uses and the way that he uses them, it is the reactions of the Democrats that makes it must see tv.

[thegagline]

So sick of Epstein.

Bill Gates and Larry Summers nod in agreement.

[misterdarcey]

I would have liked more prodding of congress for action on the SAVE Act and other priorities. He needs them to make changes permanent.

[sjmjax]

Wasn’t long enough.
There were plenty of other issues he could have used to embarrass the Democrats.

[Political Junkie Too]

Donald Trump completely whiffed tonight in his State of the Union address," Whipple said. "Remarkably, he stayed on script. The trouble was the script, which failed to convincingly address affordability or [Jeffrey] Epstein or any of the pressing issues of the day.

Why should he have? This was his day, his forum, to lay out his vision for the next year.

Those other issues are for the daily press brief, not the SOTU.

-PJ

[thegagline]

I would have liked more prodding of congress for action on the SAVE Act and other priorities. He needs them to make changes permanent.

I think that Trump’s audience was outside of the Capitol building.

[cowboyusa]

Historians. 😂😂

[Karoo]

Our president is so entertaining!

[daler]

What, no critiques of the president’s necktie?

[sjmjax]

The state of the Democrat Party has been immortalized by the moment he asked them to stand for the American citizens.

THAT represents what the Democrat Party has become.

[x]

Whipple wiffs.

[pepsi_junkie]

We know the historians wrote their reviews a week before the event, with some blank to fill in to explain why it sucked in a way that looked like they based it on something other than ‘orange man stinks!’.

[Revel]

It was a great speech. If you wanted to catch Trump saying anything that was not completely accurate then it would about the usual blather about he created “No Tax on Tips”. and “No tax on Social Security”. Statements that woefully leave out the whole truth.