State of the Union 2026: LIVE: President Donald Trump's State of the Union 2026 Speech

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LIVE: President Donald Trump's State of the Union 2026 Speech - Special Coverage | NBC News NOW​

 

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Summary​

• US President Donald Trump will deliver an address to a joint session of both houses of Congress this evening
• The State of the Union address is an annual event in which the president lays out their legislative priorities while also celebrating their achievements over the past year
• Trump is expected to cover a wide variety of both domestic and international topics when he speaks at approximately 21:00 ET (02:00 GMT)
• Senators and members of Congress will be joined by the Cabinet and Supreme Court justices, as well as First Lady Melania Trump and a roster of invited guests

 

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Which Democratic lawmakers are boycotting Trump's address?​

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers from the US House and Senate are boycotting the State of the Union, as part of a protest against President Trump's policies.

So far, more than 50 legislators have indicated they will not attend, according to a tally by CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

The group includes several high profile Congress members including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Robert Garcia of California, and Kweisi Mfume of Maryland. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, who is the second highest ranking Democrat in the House is the most senior representative not attending.

Both of Maryland's US senators Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen and Oregon's US senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are not attending. Tina Smith of Minnesota and Ed Markey of Massachusetts are not going either.

Instead, some of those not attending plan to participate in a different event dubbed the "People's State of the Union" on the National Mall.

 

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Empty seats in the chamber signal boycott​

Protesting Democrats are noticeably absent in the House chamber.

Approximately fifty legislators, including a member of the leadership team Katherine Clark, will not take their seats tonight.

Hundreds of other lawmakers have filed in to listen to the president's address.

Image source,Getty Images

 

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Democratic congressman escorted out​

Image source,Getty Images
Texas Democratic Congressman Al Green has just been escorted out from the event.

Since the moment Trump entered the chamber, Green has been holding a sign that says "Black people aren't apes" - a reference to Trump posting a racist video that depicted America's first black president - Barack Obama - as an ape.

Green was also removed for disrupting Trump's speech last year.

 

[Hightech88]

 

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Jimmy Lai's daughter appears at State of the Union​

By Kristie Lu Stout

Daughter of Hong Kong democracy advocate Jimmy Lai , Claire Lai, applauds during the State of the Union address.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The fate of jailed former Hong Kong media mogul and longtime China critic Jimmy Lai is in focus at this year’s State of the Union address, with his daughter Claire Lai in attendance at the Capitol as a guest of House Speaker Mike Johnson.

It comes just weeks after her 78-year-old father was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Hong Kong court. Claire Lai has described the sentence as “heartbreakingly cruel.”

In December, Lai was found guilty of sedition and two counts of colluding with foreign forces — serious charges under the sweeping national security law Beijing imposed on the semi-autonomous southern city. Lai had pleaded not guilty.

Republican Congressman Chris Smith helped organize Claire’s appearance, praising her and her brother Sebastien for their continued advocacy to free their father. He said on Monday that their dedication “inspires us all to act,” adding that President Donald Trump has raised Lai’s imprisonment multiple times.

The United States and other governments have repeatedly called for Lai’s release. Trump reportedly pressed Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the issue during their talks last year.

Both Beijing and Hong Kong’s government have repeatedly rejected international criticism of Lai’s prosecution and warned against what they call foreign “interference.”

Claire Lai’s appearance in Washington is drawing renewed attention to her father’s case just weeks before Trump’s planned trip to Beijing in April.

 

[eatshitndie]

ukraine is making progress with a concerted counter offensive. is trumpet taking credit for that too?

 

[Leongsam]

Yet more irrefutable proof that Trump is the best President ever!

Long live President Trump.

 

[Leongsam]

 

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This is hilarious...