The top 5 moments from Trump’s State of the Union speech

president Donald TrumpThe president’s lengthy State of the Union address Tuesday night included a host of attention-grabbing moments that stole the show as the president described the national “transformation” in a speech that focused largely on the economy.

Trump’s speech broke records and became the longest SOTU letter In modern history, about an hour and 48 minutes. He highlighted his administration’s efforts to cut taxes, ease housing costs and close borders while touting turning over a new leaf for the nation.

Fox News Digital rounded up the first five moments of the speech, from Democrats’ outbursts to moments of heightened emotion as Trump highlighted American heroism.

1. Al Green was fired again

Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green was again kicked out of a joint speech after he held up a sign that read, “Blacks Aren’t Apes!”

Greene carried the sign as Trump made his way to the stage Tuesday evening, and remained standing with the sign even after Trump began his speech.

Green was spotted in a heated back-and-forth tussle with two Republicans in the House of RepresentativesReps. Troy Neals, R-Texas, and Pat Fallon, R-Texas, before being escorted out of the speech shortly after it began.

The longtime left-wing Texas lawmaker It was removed by security During Trump’s joint address to Congress in 2025 after repeatedly interrupting the president by shouting and shaking his stick. The blast led the House to censure Greene, including 10 Democrats joining the GOP in a March 2025 vote.

2. “USA” chants erupt as the men’s hockey team is honored

Trump invited the US men’s hockey team to the speech, just days after they won the gold medal over Canada at the Winter Olympics. The body chanted “USA” as lawmakers from both parties stood to honor the Olympic athletes.

The team filled the hall’s aisles as Trump welcomed them as examples of American triumph during his speech.

Hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, in particular, received a hero’s welcome when Trump announced he would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hellebuyck made 41 saves during the USA’s game against Canada on Sunday, helping keep the score tied 1-1, forcing overtime.

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“I will soon be presenting Conner with our highest civilian honor, which we will award and which has been awarded to many athletes over the years,” Trump said. “But when I say a lot, not a lot, like 12. That’s called our country’s highest civilian award. The Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

3. Trump rebukes Democrats: “You should be ashamed.”

Trump’s speech included criticizing Democrats for voting against tax cuts under the “big, beautiful bill,” for unleashing high inflation problems under the Biden administration and allegedly worsening the housing crisis.

At one point, Trump took direct aim at Democrats’ permissive immigration policies, calling on lawmakers to stand up and reaffirm their belief that “the first duty of the U.S. government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

“One of the great things about the State of the Union address is that it gives Americans an opportunity to see clearly what their representatives really believe,” Trump said. “So tonight I call on every lawmaker to join my administration and affirm a basic principle. If you agree with this statement, stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

Republicans were seen standing and applauding, while Democrats remained seated, prompting Trump to rebuke left-wing lawmakers.

Texas Democratic Rep. Al Green was again kicked out of a joint speech after he held up a sign that read, “Blacks Aren’t Apes!” (Kenny Holston Paul/Getty Images)

“Isn’t this a shame? You should be ashamed of yourself and not stand up,” Trump said. “That is why I am also asking you to end deadly sanctuary cities that protect criminals and enact tough penalties on government officials who prevent the removal of criminal aliens.”

“In many cases, it was drug lords and killers all over our country,” he said. “They are keeping these people out of our country. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

The speech has already prompted Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar to shout down Trump, including claiming that he “killed Americans.”

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Trump spoke out against the widespread fraud scandal linked to the Somali community in Minnesota, as well as how Democrats “cut off all funding to the Department of Homeland Security,” prompting Ilhan Omar to yell at Trump.

“They put in another lockdown for the Democrats, the first one cost us two points on GDP, and we lost two points on GDP, which probably made them very happy, actually,” Trump said. “Now shut down the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers.”

Omar shouted, “You killed the Americans.” He was heard saying: “You are a killer.”

4. Trump honors military heroism

Trump honored several military members dating back to World War II on Tuesday, providing a series of emotional moments throughout the evening.

In addition to announcing Hellebuyck’s upcoming Presidential Medal of Freedom award, Trump awarded military medals to two military aviators, a Coast Guard petty officer and two National Guard members on Tuesday evening.

Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to 100-year-old Navy aviator Royce Williams, a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.

“In 1952, Royce was in the legendary air battle of his life flying through blizzard conditions, and his squadron was ambushed by seven Soviet fighter planes,” Trump recounted. “It was his first air battle of the war, and despite being outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the shoot-down of four enemy planes and nearly destroyed the others, defeating his opponents while taking 263 bullets into his own plane and being seriously wounded. His story remained secret for more than 50 years. He didn’t even want to tell his wife, but the legend grew and grew.”

He also presented the Medal of Honor to Army Chief Eric Slover, who piloted an Army Chinook helicopter during the January mission that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and was wounded by enemy fire.

Trump also recognized US Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe with a Purple Heart after Wolfe was attacked in the streets of Washington, D.C., before Thanksgiving 2025. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was mortally wounded in the same attack and was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart.

Scott Ruskan, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, was awarded the Legion of Merit for his extraordinary heroism after saving 165 people during the deadly Texas floods of July 2025. Trump reunited Ruskan with an 11-year-old girl he saved in July 2025, Millie Kate McClymond.

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President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address included a number of high-profile moments, including awards for military veterans and cheers for Democrats. (Kenny Holston Paul/Getty Images)

“This was Scott’s first rescue mission ever,” the president said, describing him as young but very brave. “He lifted not only Millie Kate, but 164 others to safety. People watched Scott from a distance and couldn’t believe what they were seeing.”

Trump continued: “The wind was blowing, the rain was falling, and everything was going well. And that fast water, no one had ever seen anything like it before.” “Tonight, Scott and Millie Kate are here together, meeting for the first time.”

5. Honoring the little girl who almost died in a truck accident involving illegal immigrants

Trump invited a wide range of guests to his speech, from ordinary mothers to veterans, as well as seven-year-old Delilah Coleman.

Coleman nearly lost her life in 2024 in a multi-car crash in California involving a driver-driven tractor-trailer. Illegal immigrant.

“Delilah Coleman was just five years old in June 2024, when an 18-wheel tractor trailer, traveling at 60 mph or more, hit her parked car,” Trump said. He added: “The driver was an illegal alien who was let in by Joe Biden and obtained a commercial driver’s license from Open Borders, Politicians and California.”

Delilah Coleman nearly lost her life in 2024 in a multi-car crash in California, involving a tractor-trailer driven by an illegal immigrant. (Wayne McNamee/Getty Images)

The Trump administration has cracked down on non-citizen truck drivers, tightening eligibility requirements for nonresident commercial learner permits (CLPs) and commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) in September 2025, and Trump signed an executive order in April requiring truck drivers to pass English literacy tests.

These campaigns aim to increase road safety.

Trump detailed the little girl’s medical victories since the horrific accident, calling her a “great inspiration” and calling her father, Marcus Coleman, a “wonderful man.”

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“The doctors said Delilah would never be able to walk or talk, or live a good life. She would never even be able to eat again,” Trump said, as Republican lawmakers applauded the little girl. “But against all odds, she is now in first grade, learning to walk. And here she is this evening with her father, Marcus.”

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind and Charles Kretz contributed to this report.

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