The State of the Union Under Trump = a Disaster

February 26, 2026

Hello,

This week, Trump delivered his State of the Union address for an unbearable, record-breaking almost two hours – and he wasted every minute of it. I’ll give him this – his speech accurately reflected the real state of our union: a total disaster.

Rather than offering a single feasible plan to lower costs, protect health care, or address the very real crises facing working families, Trump used the State of the Union as a stage for more political theater filled with rants, insults, and lies.

Many of you shared your thoughts ahead of the State of the Union on what you hoped to hear. You wanted answers on the skyrocketing cost of groceries and health care. You wanted accountability for ICE’s out-of-control tactics in our communities. You wanted reassurance that the worsening government corruption would stop. And instead of addressing any of those pressing concerns, Trump spread more lies and vitriol to cover up the chaos of this administration.

Check out my thoughts on Trump's SOTU here

He called the economy “roaring,” praised ICE’s cruel tactics, ignored Epstein’s victims, and tip-toed around the health care crisis – while millions of Americans are struggling to pay their bills, are terrified to leave their homes, and are losing their coverage. 

So, here's the truth:

  • The Economy
    • Here’s the reality in CA-02: working families are facing an average annual hit of $2,020 from Trump’s Tariffs and his Big Ugly Law, plus $2,355 in additional living costs, $482 more for housing, and $581 more for transportation.
    • These tariffs are a tax on working families, and Trump laid out plans to make them worse while handing more tax breaks to his billionaire allies.
  • Immigration
    • Trump didn’t just fail to call for reform – he refused to acknowledge the terror and violence ICE has unleashed on our streets. He referred to immigrants as “aliens” and praised his “new military campaign.”
    • I, along with many of you, want to see real, comprehensive immigration reform. Arresting, terrorizing, and killing people in our streets is not reform – that’s cruelty masquerading as policy. And as per usual, Trump took zero accountability.
  • Health Care
    • Trump’s Big Ugly Bill passed the largest Medicaid cut in American history and ended Affordable Care Act tax credits – forcing families to choose between groceries and the care they need. He defended these policies and laid out more rogue, nonsensical plans to gut health care.
    • In CA-02, 38,711 people are losing their coverage as a direct result of Republican cuts, and Trump didn’t give them a second thought.

And throughout all of it, Speaker Johnson sat behind Trump, smirking and nodding along as he continued to push a White Christian Nationalist ideology that is eroding the separation of church and state in front of our eyes. As Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, I will continue to push back against these abuses every single day.

Trump is failing the American people, but I am showing up every day in Congress and won’t stop fighting for our community. You deserve better.

HELPING YOU

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Thank you, and stay well,

Jared Huffman
Member of Congress