Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term on Monday, delivering a speech that lasted nearly one hour and 48 minutes — the longest in modern history. During the address, Trump praised the economy, criticized Democrats as “crazy,” and claimed he had overseen a “turnaround for the ages.” He also honored veterans and promised a bright future for the country. But one moment that caught attention had nothing to do with policy.
Trump took time to praise First Lady Melania Trump for her work over the past year, including efforts related to foster care, AI initiatives, and her upcoming Amazon documentary. He highlighted her achievements, saying she had secured funding for the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence initiative. “Nobody cares more about protecting America’s youth than our first lady — she’s now a movie star,” Trump said. “Over the past year she’s had an incredible impact.”
Then came the remark that sparked conversation. “She gets much better bipartisan support than I do. I get none, she gets a lot. Some day you’re going to have to tell me how you did that!” he joked. Many viewed the comment as a light tease rather than criticism, suggesting Trump was acknowledging that Melania receives broader approval across party lines.
However, recent polling shows the First Lady’s approval rating is mixed. A YouGov survey found her approval rating at -16, lower than Jill Biden’s -9 but slightly higher than Hillary Clinton’s -17. Other former first ladies, including Nancy Reagan, Rosalynn Carter, and Michelle Obama, have historically held significantly higher approval ratings.
What did you think of Trump’s State of the Union address?
