State of the Dis-Union: Trump's Ugly, (Long) Rant

By Joel Connelly

President Trump delivered a raw, divisive, ugly, and long State of the Union speech last night, the bully-in-chief at the bully pulpit. He was unchained. The country was treated to false claims, demonizing of immigrants, and celebration of the deployment of American troops against American citizens.

Shouting matches ensued. “I ended eight wars,” claimed Trump. “That’s a lie,” shouted Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Michigan. A minute later, the president said of the Russia-Ukraine war: “It never would have happened if I were president.” Countered Tlaib: “What are you talking about.”

Instead of national unity, Trump preached division, demonizing Minnesota where two unarmed anti-ICE citizens were shot dead by federal enforcers. “You’ve killed Americans,” shouted Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota. To which Trump responded: “You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.”

Whereas George Washington stepped back from the presidency, Trump came across as the American Mussolini. In the tradition of authoritarians, his vehicle was to deploy fear — fear of the vulnerable. He seemed to become unhinged about 50 minutes into a 108-minute tirade.

https://www.postalley.org/2026/02/25/state-of-the-dis-union-trumps-ugly-long-rant/