Stronger, Safer, and More Prosperous: Republicans Celebrate Our State of the Union Under President Trump
The following is from the Trump team.
On Tuesday night, President Donald J. Trump addressed a joint session of Congress and delivered the first State of the Union of his second term, where he showcased a nation that is well on its way to being stronger, safer, and more prosperous than ever before.
Republican leaders from across the country are sharing stories of real progress in their communities — from safer neighborhoods and booming small businesses to greater support for farmers, law enforcement, and working-class families. As President Trump charts the path ahead, these voices highlight the tangible results of putting America First.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06): Eastern Arizona Courier: Keeping our communities safe requires strong leadership
“Living and representing a border district, I have seen firsthand what chaos at the southern border looks like — and I’ve seen what leadership can accomplish.
Under President Trump’s leadership, our southern border has undergone a dramatic turnaround. After years of failed open borders policies under the Biden administration that overwhelmed our communities, stretched law enforcement thin and allowed fentanyl to pour into our country, we are restoring order and enforcing the law once again.”
Rep. Gabe Evans (CO-08): The Denver Post: President Donald Trump’s State of the Union is strong as he delivers safety to Colorado
“Republicans in Congress, alongside President Donald Trump, are delivering on their mandate from the American people to make America safe again, and the results are impossible to ignore. As President Donald Trump reflects on his second-term in office during the State of the Union, I couldn’t help but reflect on how Colorado communities are seeing firsthand that Republicans prioritize public safety. Trump is reversing the many years of rising crime and chaos inflicted on families under Democrat rule. The American people asked for safer streets and secure borders, and today, GOP-led policies are delivering measurable results.
A new report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association shows violent crime is plummeting across major U.S. cities between 2024 and 2025. Homicides fell 19%, robberies dropped 20% and aggravated assaults were down nearly 10% in 2025 across 67 of the nation’s biggest police departments. These improvements came after Americans rejected soft-on-crime and defund-the-police policies, which resulted in a spike in crime over the previous 4 years. Denver saw one of the highest drops in homicide rates in the nation.”
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07): Times News Online: Trump accounts: Investing in America’s Next Generation
“For all our lives, we’ve heard talk from Washington about doing the right thing for working families and future generations. Despite all that talk, millions of young families gradually fell behind during the inflation of the Biden years.
That’s why, since arriving in Washington last year, I’ve worked alongside President Trump to turn rhetoric about working families into real relief — starting with giving the next generation the financial head start it deserves.
By creating new, tax-advantaged 530a savings accounts through the Working Families Tax Cuts, we are revolutionizing the way American families prepare their children for financial independence. With these accounts — commonly known as “Trump Accounts” — children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, are now eligible to receive a $1,000 contribution from the Department of Treasury in a pilot program that will jumpstart their economic and financial freedom.”
Rep. Scott Perry (PA-10): York Daily Record: Working Families Tax Cuts delivering for America
“As Americans look ahead to President Trump’s State of the Union address, one message that consistently stands out is that his policies that put American workers, families, and small businesses first are beginning to make a real difference for hardworking Americans in communities like ours.
Here at home, small businesses remain the backbone of our local economy. From family-owned restaurants and local retailers, to construction crews and manufacturers, these entrepreneurs drive innovation, create jobs, and strengthen our communities; they are, indeed, the backbone of the American economy. Many of them have told me that the Working Families Tax Cuts – historic legislation passed by President Trump and Republicans in Congress – have given them the ability to reinvest in their businesses, hire new employees, upgrade equipment, and keep prices more stable for their customers – for starters.”
Rep. Tom Barrett (MI-07): The Detroit News: Working Families Tax Cuts putting money back in Americans’ pockets
“Tax season is underway. It’s a time that puts pressure on Michigan families, as they compile documents, fill out IRS forms and find out how much they owe or how big their refund will be.
This year, there’s a little less stress thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts — the law my Republican colleagues and I passed, and President Donald Trump signed, to provide real relief and make life more affordable. These tax cuts are already lowering costs for families, delivering for the American worker and strengthening our local economy in Michigan.
So far this year, the IRS has received more than 33 million returns and workers are getting more of their hard-earned money back. The average refund is $2,476. That’s a 14% increase — more than $300 higher than a year ago.”
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01): Indianola-IA.com: President Trump is leading the Great American Comeback
“As we look ahead to President Trump’s first State of the Union since returning to office, one thing is undeniable: America is stronger today than it was a year ago.
When President Trump returned to the White House, he inherited 40-year-high inflation, record border crossings, rising crime, and families squeezed by the highest cost of living in decades. Under the previous administration, inflation soared to levels not seen in forty years, driving up the price of groceries, gas, housing, and everyday essentials.
In just one year, President Trump has helped steady the ship.
Inflation has slowed. Gas prices are the lowest since 2020. Wages are rising and GDP is growing. Border crossings are at their lowest levels in more than 50 years. Drug overdoses have fallen to their lowest levels in years. America is now experiencing the lowest murder rate ever recorded.
We have also delivered the largest tax cuts for working- and middle-class Americans in history.
Through the Working Families Tax Cuts, Americans are keeping more of their hard-earned money. We reduced taxes on tips and overtime, secured a $6,000 tax deduction for seniors, doubled the Child Tax Credit, and delivered relief to small businesses that power Iowa’s economy.”
Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-07): SaveJersey.com: From line cooks to the manufacturing line, New Jerseyans are seeing the benefits of a tax code that puts them first.
“When I talk to small business owners in New Jersey, I often hear them say they want to build, hire, grow, and give back to their communities, but for too long they were held back by high taxes, uncertainty, and burdensome regulations that punished their hard work.
Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, that is finally changing. A few months ago, I hosted a roundtable with local restaurant leaders and hospitality workers in our district, and Keith Holmes, owner of the St. Moritz Grill & Bar in Sparta, summed up what many in the room were feeling: “With the passage of the [Working Families Tax Cuts], there are really three key components that will help the restaurant industry in New Jersey. First, the No Tax on Overtime helps our chefs and kitchen staff, since they’re the ones earning overtime. Second, eliminating taxes on tips directly benefits servers. And finally, the Social Security piece helps seniors—when they have more money in their pockets, they’re more likely to dine out at restaurants.”
When you let people keep more of what they earn, they spend more, invest more, and uplift others around them. From servers to seniors to small business owners to families, this tax relief is reaching the backbone of our economy, and it’s showing up in the paychecks and pocketbooks of everyday Americans across our state.”
Rep. Nick Begich (AK-AL): The Alaska Story: Alaska’s Story at the State of the Union
“Just a little over a year ago, President Donald Trump returned to office with a resounding mandate from the American people to restore prosperity, secure the border, rebuild American strength, and put the American people first.
Tonight, the American people will hear directly from the President about Republicans’ transformative results.
Here in Alaska, that progress started with unlocking our state’s extraordinary potential. On day one, this Administration took decisive action to reverse the Biden Administration’s punitive restrictions on Alaska and issued an executive order to fully unleash our state’s abundant natural resources. The President’s executive order to unlock Alaska reversed the Biden administration’s targeted assault on our resource economy and made clear that Alaska would once again be central to America’s energy future.
We reinforced that momentum through the Working Families Tax Cuts, which included transformative energy provisions for Alaska.”
Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15): TexasBorderBusiness.com: Bringing South Texas to the State of the Union
“We have tailored tax cuts for every stage of life. For young families, we boosted the Child Tax Credit. For the hardworking young adults, we eliminated taxes on tips and overtime. For our seniors, we ended the tax on Social Security and added a $6,000 deduction to help retirement savings go further. By making these cuts permanent, we blocked a 22% tax hike that would have devastated South Texas families.
The wins of the last year stand in contrast to the previous administration. For four years under the Biden administration, South Texans dealt with skyrocketing inflation, unaffordable mortgage rates, and a wide-open border. Today, we are seeing a seismic shift. We have the most secure border in history, mortgage rates are trending down, and inflation has dropped by over 6 percentage points.
When President Trump stands before Congress, he will not just be speaking to politicians; he will be speaking to the families across Texas’s 15th District as we welcome the Golden Age of America.”
Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-01): The Alpena News: Working families tax cuts are working for America
“[A]s Congress prepares to welcome President Trump to deliver his State of the Union address, we know we have a lot of work left to do to deliver on our promises to the American people. However, it is important to celebrate our victories – victories that have begun to deliver real relief to Americans suffering under the strain of historic inflation.
Thanks to the Working Family Tax Cuts that we passed, Americans have already started seeing the effects. Just this week, the IRS announced that tax refunds are up 11% for the average family. That is not a talking point. That is a tangible difference in the lives of working people – families who have spent the last several years watching grocery bills climb, utility rates spike, and everyday essentials become harder to afford.”
Rep. Dave Taylor (OH-02): The Highland County Press: From safer streets to the State of the Union: Honoring Sheriff Chris Stratton
“Since President Trump was sworn into office, cities across the U.S. have seen a steep decline in every major violent crime category compared to the previous year. Our nation’s murder rate has plunged to a 125-year low, robberies are down by 20%, and aggravated assaults are down nearly 10%.
In our own Buckeye State, Columbus is seeing a 33% decrease in crime, while in cities like Orlando, Florida, crime has plummeted by 58%.
This is no coincidence.
President Trump’s no-nonsense approach to public safety is what’s keeping families like yours and mine safer. When criminals are held accountable, parents don’t have to worry as much about their kids’ safety, local businesses lose less money to crime, and law enforcement has the tools and support they need to do their jobs.”
Rep. Tom Emmer (MN-06): AlphaNews.org: The Working Families Tax Cut has made the state of the union strong once again
“The state of a union is only as strong as the state of its people, and under President Trump and Republican majorities in Congress, the American people are stronger than ever.
This fact will be put on full display as two distinguished Minnesotans join me for the president’s State of the Union address to Congress on Feb. 24. Blaine Police Chief Brian Podany and Blaine Brothers’ Board Chairman Dean Dally are experiencing firsthand the amazing impact of President Trump’s America First economic policies, especially those enacted in the Working Families Tax Cuts.
For Brian Podany and the police force he oversees in Blaine, no tax on overtime pay is a game-changer. On average, this provision will result in a $1,400 tax cut for the men and women putting their lives on the line to protect our communities. That’s $1,400 these officers can use to save up for a home, invest in their children’s future, and grow their families. No tax on overtime also incentivizes recruits to join the police force, helping chiefs like Podany fill their ranks with dedicated, hardworking men and women.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (Alabama): YellowHammerNews: Taking back the American Dream this tax season
“Americans across the country are preparing for tax season as W-2s make their way to everyone’s mailboxes. People often compare filling out their tax forms to learning a new language because of how stressful and confusing it can be.
However, this year, I’m proud to say that Alabamians will be bringing home more money than ever thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts — formerly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.
From Marshall to Baldwin County, Alabamians in EVERY county will get to keep more of their hard-earned money this year.
We have finally done something about the affordability crisis Americans are facing rather than spewing talking points in the face of working-class Americans who are looking for answers.”
Rep. Brian Mast (FL-21): Newsweek: Donald Trump Has Done the Impossible
“When President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday evening, the entire world will be watching. What it will see is a president who did what many didn’t think was possible, a president who achieved incredible results because he understands that only through strength can we truly have peace.
Since returning to office, President Trump has taken decisive action to restore America’s standing on the world stage and make it clear that we’re done apologizing for defending our interests. America is back, stronger than ever, and we won’t apologize for it.”
Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-09): Today’sNews-Herald HavasuNews.com Secure borders, secure ballots: the stark choice facing America
“President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his upcoming State of the Union address, the contrast in American politics could not be more clear. On one side stands an administration focused on restoring sovereignty, strengthening enforcement, and rebuilding public trust. On the other stands a Democratic Party that has repeatedly chosen obstruction over security — particularly when it comes to the border and election integrity.
In recent weeks, that divide has come into sharp focus.
After the House passed a bipartisan, full-year funding bill, Democrats blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security at the eleventh hour, triggering a partial shutdown. The consequences were immediate: TSA agents, Coast Guard members, Secret Service personnel, and FEMA responders forced to work without pay; cybersecurity operations slowed; counterterrorism readiness strained.
This was not an unavoidable impasse. It was a deliberate political maneuver.
For border states like Arizona, the implications are deeply concerning. Our communities have lived with the consequences of federal inaction — fentanyl pouring across the border, cartel activity expanding, local law enforcement stretched thin, ranchers and families bearing the brunt of chaos. When DHS operations are disrupted, even temporarily, Arizona feels it first.
Yet rather than strengthen enforcement, many Democrats appear intent on weakening it. Shutting down Homeland Security to gain leverage over immigration policy sends a dangerous message: that political positioning matters more than border security. For families who have lost loved ones to drug trafficking or crime tied to illegal immigration, that message rings hollow.”
Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04): Washington Reporter: The state of the union and Indiana are strong under President Trump
“One year into President Donald J. Trump’s second term, the state of our union is strong. For four years, President Joe Biden plunged our union into one crisis after another. Hoosiers faced skyrocketing inflation, the highest gas prices, the worst border crisis on record, and multiple wars began around the world due to Biden’s failed leadership. This is the mess President Trump, Congressional Republicans, and I inherited. We are working hard to right these terrible wrongs and usher America into her Golden Age.
The single largest achievement so far in President Trump’s term has been the Working Families Tax Cuts. I was honored to work with the president to pass this pro-growth legislation, which cut federal spending, delivered historic investments in rural America, and expanded tax cuts to farmers, small businesses, and middle-class families. I serve on the House Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over a significant portion of this legislation. At long last, we have a president who is prioritizing farmers. With President Trump’s signature, this bill delivered a generational investment in our farmers and producers, expanded the farm safety net and crop insurance, funded successful conservation programs, and supported export growth so our farmers can sell more of their goods abroad.”
Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-02): Idaho State Journal: Our Union is strong because economic relief is finally coming
“As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, one thing is clear — the state of our union is strong because America’s economic comeback is underway.
Under President Joe Biden’s leadership, hope and optimism were at a low. Record inflation and high prices had become the norm. I spoke with Idaho families living paycheck to paycheck, seniors on fixed incomes, and parents who wondered whether they could afford school supplies. Americans nationwide bore the brunt of President Biden’s failed policies, and economic confidence was diminishing.
That changed when voters sent President Trump back to the White House to revive the United States economy, restore American prosperity, and bring back the American Dream.”
Rep. Mark Harris (NC-08): Breitbart: No More Irynas—Trump’s Historic Crime Drop Proves Tough Enforcement Works
“Six months ago, Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was brutally murdered on a Charlotte, North Carolina, light-rail train—just miles from my district. Her killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender with a lengthy criminal history, should never have been on the streets. This tragedy exposed the deadly consequences of soft-on-crime policies in Democrat-run cities, where victims suffer while offenders face minimal accountability.
In his first year back in office, President Donald Trump has confronted these failed approaches head-on. Tonight, during his State of the Union address, he will rightly celebrate the progress in delivering on his promise to make America safer—so that no more women like Iryna have to fear for their lives on public transit.”
Rep. Russell Fry (SC-07): MyHorryNews.com: Democrats’ inflation era gives way to Trump’s energy revival
“The seismic shift we’ve seen in leadership has put America back on track, with President Donald Trump course-correcting our nation by repealing the policies that fueled the Bidenflation crisis. He’s issued numerous Executive Orders and worked with Congressional Republicans on legislation to repeal the worst of Biden’s America-last policies. By restoring American energy dominance, reopening leasing on federal lands, and streamlining permitting, his administration has signaled the United States is open again for investment, and the nation is ready to lead as a reliable, affordable energy producer to meet growing domestic and allied demand.
Washington’s policies in the time of a Republican trifecta haven’t denied environmental stewardship, but returned balance. America can protect clean air and water while reinvesting in foundational energy projects fundamental to our economy and national security. Pretending otherwise, while subsidizing less-effective, foreign technologies with massive taxpayer handouts, distorted markets and drove up costs.”
Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11): GoSanAngelo: Much-needed tax cuts are coming for hardworking Texans
“Republicans in Congress, alongside President Trump, delivered a transformative piece of legislation on America’s 249th anniversary. I refer, of course, to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — the largest Working Families Tax Cut package in American history.
I am of the camp that Americans deserve lower taxes and less government in their lives, and at the heart of the Working Families Tax Cut are critical tax reforms that deliver on that belief. This bill is a massive win for hardworking Texans and will help foster an economy that is pro-growth, pro-worker, pro-family, pro-business and pro-energy.
Arguably, the most impactful victory of this bill is the permanent extension of the 2017 Trump tax cuts. Without this, over 475,000 taxpayers in Texas’ 11th Congressional District would have faced a devastating 26% tax increase — the largest in American history. This alone protects middle-class families, small businesses and workers from a crushing financial blow, but it doesn’t stop there.”
Rep. Michael Guest (MS-03):The Washington Reporter: The state of the border showcases a year of winning, even as Democrats hold DHS funding hostage
“As we prepare to hear President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address tonight, there is one success from the past year that stands out the most — our border.
As chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement, I have been honored to work alongside President Trump to deliver results.
These results speak for themselves. After years of chaos created by the open-border policies of the Left, we have seen a restoration of law and order. From February 2025 through January 2026 — the first year of President Trump’s second term — nationwide border encounters dropped 83 percent compared to the period of February 2024 through January 2025 under the Biden administration, in which U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded 2.1 million nationwide encounters.
Since his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Trump has undertaken a whole-of-government strategy to surge resources to the border, reinforce our border barrier system, end catch-and-release and mass parole policies, disrupt cartel operations, and ensure law enforcement can accomplish their missions.
These actions had an immediate effect, with encounters at ports of entry along the Southwest border dropping 93 percent in the 11 days after January 20, 2025, compared to the last 11 days of President Biden’s term.”