Fact-Checking Alert: Trump's State of the Union–What Happened, What Was True, False, and Misleading?

Donald Trump's latest State of the Union was a marathon of claims, boasts, and moments designed to rally his supporters. But beneath the applause and pomp, many statements didn't hold up under scrutiny. As the nation watches, the truth behind Trump's words reveals a pattern of exaggeration, some truths shared, and sometimes outright misinformation.

Here's what really went on and ranked.

1. Epstein Files

Oh, the Epstein files? Never mentioned, even though everyone was expecting that the President would address them at SOTU.

Despite Donald Trump's claims of exoneration and urging the nation to 'move on' after signing the Epstein Files Transparency Act in late 2025, the January 2026 release of 3.5 million pages revealed extensive references to him, sparking renewed investigations into possible cover-ups, with over 38,000 mentions, including allegations of sexual misconduct and connections to Epstein's network.

2. Immigration and the tightening of the gates

Trump's stance on immigration remains restrictive. He claims, 'We will always allow people to come in legally,' but his policies tell a different story.

Restrictions on travel and migration from about 40 countries, mostly in Africa, were introduced. These measures have made it harder for many to enter the US, contradicting his optimistic tone about welcoming 'people that will love our country.'

Trump continues to prioritise mass deportations and the enforcement of the SAVE America Act, recently demanding in his 2026 State of the Union address that Congress fully restore DHS funding to secure the border.

No, President Trump did not mention Renee Nicole Good or Alex Pretti during his State of the Union address on February 24, 2026. Their names were instead brought to the forefront by Democratic lawmakers who used the occasion to protest the administration's immigration enforcement.

3. Tariffs and trade

Trump's boast that tariffs are 'saving our country' and that tariff revenues are 'substantially replacing income tax' is misleading. While tariffs did bring in more revenue, totalling about $195 billion in the latest budget year, they still account for less than 4% of federal income.

Experts warn that tariffs are regressive and cannot sustain income tax replacement, especially as recent court decisions may require refunds of collected tariffs.

4. He ended eight wars

Trump loves to claim to have ended eight wars in his first 10 months. He likes to publish them on social media. Many conflicts he touts as resolved were either non-existent or ongoing. For example, there was no active war between Serbia and Kosovo during his tenure, only tension. His influence in conflicts involving Israel, Hamas, Iran, India, Pakistan, and other nations was limited or ambiguous at best.

5. Medicine and drug prices and TrumpRx

Trump claims, 'I took prescription drugs from the highest price in the world to the lowest,' citing a drastic reduction in drug prices. While some steps were taken to reduce prices, the claims made in the speech are grossly exaggerated. There are currently criticisms against the 16 pharma companies that made a deal with Trump.

6. The American economy: 'A nation in crisis'

Trump kicked off with a bold claim, 'When I last spoke in this chamber 12 months ago, I had just inherited a nation in crisis, with a stagnant economy.'

Inflation did cause frustration among voters, the economy was far from stagnant. In 2024, the gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 2.8%, a solid figure that beat the 2.2% from the year before. It suggests ongoing resilience, not stagnation.

He then declared, 'Incomes are rising fast, the roaring economy is roaring like never before.' When adjusted for inflation, real incomes only increased by 0.9% in 2025. That's a slowdown from 2.2% in 2024, which itself was a decline from the previous year. Wages aren't growing as quickly as Trump suggests.

7. $18T 'fantasy' investment claims

Trump claimed, 'I secured commitments for more than $18 trillion pouring in from all over the globe.' That figure sounds impressive, but experts are sceptical. Unfortunately, no concrete evidence supports such a massive inflow of foreign or domestic investment. Trump's own admin states the figure at around $9.6 trillion, which includes commitments made during the Biden administration.

8. Jobs and unemployment

Companies are hiring less aggressively, and workers are being laid off. Trump said, 'More Americans are working today than at any time in our country's history.'

But the truth is more nuanced. The total number of jobs is high because the population increases. The real measure is the employment rate, the percentage of Americans who are employed. That peaked at 64.7% in April 2000, and now stands at about 59.8%. It's a significant drop over two decades.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate is low at 4.3%, but slightly higher than at the end of Biden's term, when it was 4%.

Trump's speech was packed with claims designed to paint America as a winner. While some reflect truth, many are exaggerated or outright false. The effort to craft a narrative of ongoing victory often clashes with the complex realities of economics, foreign policy, and social progress. One thing's clear: in politics, storytelling often trumps the facts.