In his 2026 State of the Union speech to Congress, President Donald Trump spent much of his time highlighting what he sees as achievements in the U.S. economy and warning about problems he claims are connected to immigration. He made the address longer than any in history—nearly two hours—and directed much of his energy toward convincing lawmakers and the public that the country is stronger now than before. He talked about things like inflation, taxes, drug prices, and the stock market, saying these areas show the country is doing well. But his claims were controversial, and many economists and fact-checkers said some of them weren’t backed by the facts.
Part of Trump’s address focused sharply on immigration and fraud. He singled out Minnesota, calling the state a “stunning example” of corruption and fraud that he says has harmed the nation. In particular, he repeated a claim that members of the Somali community in Minnesota have carried out massive fraud — saying they had “pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer.” That figure is disputed, and experts say the investigation into fraud in Minnesota programs doesn’t support such a high number.
Trump used this Minnesota example as part of a broader argument that he is launching what he called a “war on fraud,” which he wants his vice president to lead. His remarks didn’t just describe fraud; they tied the issue to immigration in general and to specific groups of people, which drew significant pushback from lawmakers and many Americans who felt the comments were unfair or fostered division.
The reaction in the House chamber was immediate and dramatic. As Trump made his comments, Republicans stood and applauded, while Democrats — including Rep. Ilhan Omar, who represents Minnesota — stayed seated and shouted back at the president. Omar yelled “liar” in response to his portrayal of Minnesota and its Somali community and accused him of harming people through his policies. Other Democrats also protested or objected to the tone and substance of his remarks right from their seats.
Beyond his focus on fraud and immigration, Trump challenged Democrats on multiple fronts. He accused them of not protecting American citizens first and suggested they should support stricter laws on voting and immigration enforcement. He also criticized some Democratic opposition to voter ID laws and suggested that undocumented immigrants are linked to crime — a claim many independent fact-checkers say is not supported by evidence.
His speech included praise for America’s athletes and troops, brief mentions of foreign policy, and a reminder that his party wants to change laws on voting and immigration. He made it clear he sees his agenda — especially strong immigration enforcement and fraud crackdowns — as part of his plan to appeal to voters ahead of the midterm elections later this year.
In short, the speech was a blend of promotion, confrontation, and political strategy. Trump aimed to show that the U.S. is strong under his watch and to rally his supporters around his priorities. But the sharp language he used about Minnesota and immigration sparked tension in Congress and among the public, highlighting the deep divide in American politics heading into the election season.
