Featured Image Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Iran, News, World News, Politics
Madison Burgess
Topics: Donald Trump, Iran, News, World News, Politics
Donald Trump's State of the Union speech broke not one, but two records yesterday (24 February).
For those who are unfamiliar, the State of the Union is a message from the President to Congress, usually given once a year in January or February.
In the message, the world leader talks about important issues facing Americans and sets the agenda for the next year, offers ideas on solving the nation's problems, and puts forward suggestions for new laws and policies.
It's actually a requirement of the US Constitution that the president 'shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient'.
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Nowadays, the State of the Union is typically followed by a rebuttal from the opposition party - and this year's will be delivered by Democratic Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger.
This year's event took place on Tuesday, with Trump's guests in attendance, including Charlie Kirk's widow and Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, and the US men's Olympic hockey team.
And as we say, it broke multiple records due to its length.
The US President certainly knows how to yap, as his speech went on for a whopping one hour and 48 minutes, breaking the previously set record for a State of the Union speech.
President Clinton previously held the title in 2000, after his message lasted just over one hour and 28 minutes.
According to The Hill, Trump also smashed his own record for a speech to a joint session of Congress, as it was eight minutes longer than the one-hour and 40-minute mark he reached last year.
So, what did he actually say?
Well, the Republican leader claimed that the 'economy is roaring like never before,' before taking aim at Democrats, and discussing the US Supreme Court's 'unfortunate' decision to rule against his global tariffs.
He said: "The roaring economy is roaring like never before," before cheering the lower cost of petrol, mortgage rates, prescription drug prices, and the rising stock market, declaring that 'millions and millions of Americans are all gaining'.
However, AP-NORC polling tells a different story, as it revealed that just 39% of US adults approve of their president’s handling of the economy in February.
Glaring at the Democrat in the room, Trump raged: “You caused that problem. You caused that problem."
“These people are crazy, I’m telling you, they’re crazy,” he added, “Democrats are destroying this country."
He also used much of the same language he has utilised throughout the past decade, blasting 'criminal aliens' and warning of 'drug lords, murderers all over our country'.
Elsewhere, the world leader hinted at using America's military presence in the Middle East to launch a major military strike against Iran.
Trump said that Iran and its proxies have 'spread nothing but terrorism, death and hate,' adding that its leaders killed at least 32,000 protesters in recent weeks, which is at the far end of estimates over the death toll.
The US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency has so far counted more than 7,000 dead and believes the death toll is far higher. Iran’s government offered its only death toll on January 21, saying 3,117 people were killed.
He warned that the nation has developed missiles that can threaten Europe and 'is working on armaments that will soon reach the US'.
Trump said, “My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are, by far, to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen.”