US President Donald Trump on Tuesday night declared that the United States has experienced “a turnaround for the ages” in just one year of his renewed leadership, describing his administration’s performance as a historic transformation.

In excerpts of his State of the Union address released by the White House, Trump told lawmakers, “Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages. We will never go back to where we were just a short time ago.”

His first State of the Union of his second term was expected to be among the longest in modern history, with informed sources suggesting it could exceed one hour and 45 minutes.

Invoking American ideals

Referencing the nation’s founding principles, Trump said that every generation since 1776 has stepped forward to defend “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” adding, “Now, it is our turn.”

He described his administration as building “a nation where every child has the chance to reach higher and go farther — where government answers to the people, not the powerful — and where the interests of hardworking American citizens are always our first and ultimate concern.”

Economic confidence and policy push

On the economy, Trump predicted sustained domestic expansion, saying factories, jobs and trillions of dollars in investments would continue flowing into the country because it now has “a president who puts America First.” He sharply criticised prior administrations, alleging that wealth had been “stolen and rigged” away from productive Americans.

The President also claimed success in lowering prescription drug prices, asserting that previous leaders had failed to deliver on similar promises. On housing, he highlighted a recent executive order aimed at preventing large Wall Street investment firms from purchasing single-family homes in bulk, and urged Congress to make the measure permanent, declaring that “homes are for people, not corporations.”

Border, security and foreign policy

Turning to homeland security, Trump accused Democrats of cutting funding for the Department of Homeland Security and demanded immediate restoration of resources for border protection.

On foreign policy, he pledged to pursue peace where possible but vowed to confront threats decisively. He also promised to restore “American security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere,” citing cartel activity in parts of Mexico as a pressing concern.

Closing on a patriotic note, Trump said the spirit of the American Revolution “still burns in the hearts of every American patriot,” framing his presidency as part of a broader national renewal.