How Trump Should Respond to Political Violence in the State of the Union
This deserves loud pushback.
President Donald Trump will deliver the first State of the Union address of his second term this week, and his speech will set the priorities of his administration and much of the Republican Party in this tumultuous midterm election year, already plagued by political violence.
The speech comes amid rising tensions abroad, cultural divisions at home, a Supreme Court ruling striking down some of Trump’s tariffs, and some good economic indicators. It also comes just days after Secret Service shot and killed a man trying to enter Mar-a-Lago while carrying a gun—highlighting the threat of political violence.
Here are five issues the president should address in his speech.
1. Affordability
Trump has repeatedly said that Democrats’ use of the term “affordability” is a “con job,” but Americans are concerned about paying the bills. Democrat Abigail Spanberger prevailed in the Virginia governor’s race last year partly for this reason.
Fortunately for the president, some indicators suggest that the affordability crisis Americans experienced under former President Joe Biden has largely abated.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 1.2% from January 2025 to January 2026, during Trump’s first year in office. This figure accounts for inflation.
This means Americans, who suffered with record inflation spurred by profligate government spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, finally have more money in their pockets.
Inflation, which reached a high of 9.1% in 2022, has eased significantly. The consumer price index, a key inflation measure, only increased 2.4% between January 2025 and January 2026, a decrease from 3.0% the year before.
Meanwhile, Trump’s policies will help address affordability. Last week, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency formally rescinded the Endangerment Finding, the foundation of federal regulation of greenhouse gases. This move will help decrease the cost of gas, which will not just make it cheaper for Americans to drive, but will also further cut the costs of transportation for goods, leading to lower prices across the board.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act prevented the largest tax increase in American history by extending the Trump 2017 tax cuts, and will prevent an estimated 51 million seniors from having to pay taxes on Social Security income. Many Americans will find more cash in their wallets from both decreased regulations and lower taxes.
Trump still needs to address the issue, if only to highlight this positive news. He should also address the cost and availability of housing—a key issue for young Americans looking to start their own families.
2. Corruption
Trump kicked off his second term with a massive effort to expose and root out the waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. The Department of Government Efficiency highlighted how Americans’ tax dollars subsidized “woke” causes like transgender ideology and “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Some of this money also funded the very woke leftist groups that pushed federal policy to the Left under Biden.
Late last year, many Americans tuned in to the massive scandal in Minneapolis, …
This deserves loud pushback.
President Donald Trump will deliver the first State of the Union address of his second term this week, and his speech will set the priorities of his administration and much of the Republican Party in this tumultuous midterm election year, already plagued by political violence.
The speech comes amid rising tensions abroad, cultural divisions at home, a Supreme Court ruling striking down some of Trump’s tariffs, and some good economic indicators. It also comes just days after Secret Service shot and killed a man trying to enter Mar-a-Lago while carrying a gun—highlighting the threat of political violence.
Here are five issues the president should address in his speech.
1. Affordability
Trump has repeatedly said that Democrats’ use of the term “affordability” is a “con job,” but Americans are concerned about paying the bills. Democrat Abigail Spanberger prevailed in the Virginia governor’s race last year partly for this reason.
Fortunately for the president, some indicators suggest that the affordability crisis Americans experienced under former President Joe Biden has largely abated.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 1.2% from January 2025 to January 2026, during Trump’s first year in office. This figure accounts for inflation.
This means Americans, who suffered with record inflation spurred by profligate government spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, finally have more money in their pockets.
Inflation, which reached a high of 9.1% in 2022, has eased significantly. The consumer price index, a key inflation measure, only increased 2.4% between January 2025 and January 2026, a decrease from 3.0% the year before.
Meanwhile, Trump’s policies will help address affordability. Last week, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency formally rescinded the Endangerment Finding, the foundation of federal regulation of greenhouse gases. This move will help decrease the cost of gas, which will not just make it cheaper for Americans to drive, but will also further cut the costs of transportation for goods, leading to lower prices across the board.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act prevented the largest tax increase in American history by extending the Trump 2017 tax cuts, and will prevent an estimated 51 million seniors from having to pay taxes on Social Security income. Many Americans will find more cash in their wallets from both decreased regulations and lower taxes.
Trump still needs to address the issue, if only to highlight this positive news. He should also address the cost and availability of housing—a key issue for young Americans looking to start their own families.
2. Corruption
Trump kicked off his second term with a massive effort to expose and root out the waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. The Department of Government Efficiency highlighted how Americans’ tax dollars subsidized “woke” causes like transgender ideology and “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Some of this money also funded the very woke leftist groups that pushed federal policy to the Left under Biden.
Late last year, many Americans tuned in to the massive scandal in Minneapolis, …
How Trump Should Respond to Political Violence in the State of the Union
This deserves loud pushback.
President Donald Trump will deliver the first State of the Union address of his second term this week, and his speech will set the priorities of his administration and much of the Republican Party in this tumultuous midterm election year, already plagued by political violence.
The speech comes amid rising tensions abroad, cultural divisions at home, a Supreme Court ruling striking down some of Trump’s tariffs, and some good economic indicators. It also comes just days after Secret Service shot and killed a man trying to enter Mar-a-Lago while carrying a gun—highlighting the threat of political violence.
Here are five issues the president should address in his speech.
1. Affordability
Trump has repeatedly said that Democrats’ use of the term “affordability” is a “con job,” but Americans are concerned about paying the bills. Democrat Abigail Spanberger prevailed in the Virginia governor’s race last year partly for this reason.
Fortunately for the president, some indicators suggest that the affordability crisis Americans experienced under former President Joe Biden has largely abated.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the real average hourly earnings for all employees increased 1.2% from January 2025 to January 2026, during Trump’s first year in office. This figure accounts for inflation.
This means Americans, who suffered with record inflation spurred by profligate government spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, finally have more money in their pockets.
Inflation, which reached a high of 9.1% in 2022, has eased significantly. The consumer price index, a key inflation measure, only increased 2.4% between January 2025 and January 2026, a decrease from 3.0% the year before.
Meanwhile, Trump’s policies will help address affordability. Last week, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency formally rescinded the Endangerment Finding, the foundation of federal regulation of greenhouse gases. This move will help decrease the cost of gas, which will not just make it cheaper for Americans to drive, but will also further cut the costs of transportation for goods, leading to lower prices across the board.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act prevented the largest tax increase in American history by extending the Trump 2017 tax cuts, and will prevent an estimated 51 million seniors from having to pay taxes on Social Security income. Many Americans will find more cash in their wallets from both decreased regulations and lower taxes.
Trump still needs to address the issue, if only to highlight this positive news. He should also address the cost and availability of housing—a key issue for young Americans looking to start their own families.
2. Corruption
Trump kicked off his second term with a massive effort to expose and root out the waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. The Department of Government Efficiency highlighted how Americans’ tax dollars subsidized “woke” causes like transgender ideology and “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Some of this money also funded the very woke leftist groups that pushed federal policy to the Left under Biden.
Late last year, many Americans tuned in to the massive scandal in Minneapolis, …
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