博客

President Donald Trump, during his Tuesday night State of the Union address, awarded the Purple Heart to Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and deceased Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, two National Guard members who were critically injured and fatally shot by a gunman who ambushed them while on duty last year in Washington, D.C.

Trump used a portion of his State of the Union address to acknowledge Wolfe and the parents of 20-year-old Beckstrom, who did not survive her injuries.

“I’m going to ask a highly respected General James Seward to present Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and the great family of Sarah Beckstrom, with the award created by our late, great president, George Washington himself,” Trump said. “It’s called the Purple Heart. We love you all.”

As Trump spoke, Major General James “Jim” D. Seward, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, presented Specialist Beckstrom’s medal to her parents and pinned the Purple Heart on Staff Sergeant Wolfe in the viewing gallery above.

[Image 45]

National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who survived a November 2025 shooting attack in Washington, DC, receives a Purple Heart as he is recognized by US President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 24, 2026.(Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

“Your daughter was a true American patriot,” Trump told Beckstrom’s parents, “and she will be greatly missed.”

“She was a great person,” Trump said. “I saw reports on her. They’ve never seen anything like it. So sorry.”

Addressing Wolfe, Trump said, “The doctors thought that Andrew was gone, but his mother said, ‘No, no, Mr. President, Andrew will be fine. He’s going to make it.’ I’ve never seen anything like it.”

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey praised their award in a statement, describing the award as a “solemn and unforgettable moment, one that ensured their courage and sacrifice were honored not only by West Virginia but also before the entire nation.”

TRUMP TAKES DIRECT SOTU SWIPE AT DEMOCRATS OVER TAXES: ‘TO HURT THE PEOPLE’

[Image 47]

U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was “laid to rest with full military honors during a ceremony and interment on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, West Virginia,” the National Guard said.(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)

Beckstrom, 20, and Wolfe, 24, were both shot by a gunman just blocks from the White House last November, in what federal authorities are investigating as a terror attack.

The alleged shooter is an Afghan refugee who came to the U.S. as part of Operation Allies Welcome during the military’s withdrawal from Kabul in 2021.

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[Image 49]

President Donald Trump walks past Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Brent Kavanaugh and Associate Justice Mary Coney Barrett as he arrives for the State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC.(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution honoring the two National Guard members.

“Spc. Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Wolfe represent the very best of our nation,” Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, said at the time.

“Young Americans driven by service, compassion, and a sense of duty. Their willingness to step forward to serve their communities and their country reflects the highest ideals of military and public service.”

Fox News Digital’s Liz Elkind contributed to this report

警方自去年7月以来 对12名诈骗受害者发出限制令

发布时间：2026年2月25日 15:29 / 来源：联合早报

自去年7月1日《防诈骗保障法令》生效以来，新加坡警察部队截至今年2月1日，已向银行发出12份限制令（Restriction Orders），以限制特定受害者的交易。

警方星期三（2月25日）公布2025年全年诈骗和网络犯罪数据，公布法令实施以来的最新进展。

警方受询时解释说，在限制令期间，当局将与相关方，包括受害者家人、银行和社会服务机构代表等合作，通过各种管道避免受害者越陷越深。当局并未透露更多关于受害者或他们所涉及的骗局详情。

根据法令，警方可在劝说无效、合理怀疑当事人会继续向诈骗团伙汇款时，限制他们的银行交易，以争取更多时间沟通，防止进一步的损失。这些银行交易包括汇款、提取现金，或当事人为此申请和动用信贷服务。

限制令的期限为30天，可最多延长五次，每次30天。换言之，限制令最长可持续六个月。

据《联合早报》了解，有受害者的限制令被延长至六个月的顶限。在这类情况下，警方将继续和受害者及他们的家人沟通，希望劝服受害者。

65岁及以上受害者人均损失最高

在去年发生的案件中，受害者自发汇款给骗徒的比率，从2024年的82.4％，降至81.8％。

在大多数案例中，骗徒并未直接控制受害者的户头，而是诱导受害者自主汇款。公众在汇款前都应核实真伪，保持警觉。

在受害者年龄分布方面，65岁及以上受害者占近15％，但平均损失金额是最高的，人均被骗3万7053元，最易坠入投资、冒充政府官员和钓鱼骗案；50岁至64岁的壮龄受害者占23.6％，人均损失3万2983元，有25.6％坠入钓鱼骗案，其次是投资和求职骗案。

Spanberger slams Trump on ‘affordability’ in SOTU response — as Virginia Democrats push new taxes

Virginia governor supports Democratic legislature’s sales taxes and fantasy football levies amid claims party is ‘laser-focused on affordability’

By Charles Creitz
Fox News

Published February 25, 2026 12:31am EST

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger slammed President Donald Trump over his mass deportation operations in her official Democratic response to the State of the Union and repeated claims her party favors “affordability” even as the Old Dominion sees scores of new taxes.

Spanberger, elected in November to succeed conservative Gov. Glenn Youngkin, has sought to claim the mantle of “affordability,” even as she and Richmond Democrats move to enact or raise new taxes in multiple forms.

Speaking from the original historic House of Burgesses at the head of Colonial Williamsburg’s Duke of Gloucester Street, Spanberger noted how in 1705, the colony first gathered with the “extraordinary task of governing themselves.”

“The United States was founded on the idea that ordinary people could reject the unacceptable excesses of poor leadership, band together to demand better of their government, and create a nation that would be an example for the world,” she said, contrasting that vision with what Trump has brought.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers an address in Richmond.(Al Drago/Getty Images)

“Tonight, as we watched our nation’s lawmakers gather for a joint session of Congress, we did not hear the truth from our president,” she said, going on to rhetorically ask three questions:

“Is the President working to make life more affordable for you and your family? Is the President working to keep Americans safe — both at home and abroad? Is the President working for you?”

Spanberger recounted her 2025 election season, traveling around Virginia and addressing, “housing, health care, energy and childcare.”

She blamed Trump’s tariff policies for increasing costs, and claimed it has been Republicans trying to “make your life more expensive.”

Republicans have criticized Spanberger for supporting the legislative Democratic majority’s slew of taxes, from new sales taxes to a levy on fantasy football operators.

DEMOCRATS’ ‘TRUMP DERANGEMENT SYNDROME’ ON ‘FULL DISPLAY’ WITH COUNTER-STATE OF THE UNION EVENTS, JOHNSON SAYS

Instead, Spanberger said it was Virginia’s blue legislature that is working to lower costs:

“But here in Virginia, I am working with our state legislature to lower costs and make the Commonwealth more affordable.”

“And it’s not just me. Democrats across the country are laser-focused on affordability — in our nation’s capital and in state capitals and communities across America.”

At one point in her speech, Spanberger appeared to briefly lose her place on the teleprompter:

“But as the President spoke of his perceived successes tonight, he continues to cede economic power and technological strength to Russia … bow down to … China …to bow down to a Russian dictator, and make plans for war with Iran,” she said, as her prepared remarks cited China as the technological rival.

Just as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wielded George Washington’s gavel for the first time in State of the Union history, Spanberger also gave a nod to the famous Stafford, Va., native.

“In his Farewell Address, George Washington warned us about the possibility of ‘cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men’ rising to power,” she said. “But he also encouraged us — all Americans — to unite in ‘a common cause’ to move this nation forward.”

That is our charge once more. And that is what we are seeing across the country. It is deeply American and patriotic to do so, and it is how we ensure that the State of our Union remains strong, not just this year but for the next 250 years as well.”

“Because ‘We the people’ have the power to make change, the power to stand up for what is right, and the power to demand more of our nation,” Spanberger said to close her remarks.

Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.

He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.

Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.

Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6389848665112
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6388017661112
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6388053301112

Sen Mullin urges spring breakers to cancel trips to Mexico amid country’s violence: ‘No one should be going’

‘No one should be going down there right now, it is very volatile and the United States is laser-focused on watching what’s taking place,’ Sen Markwayne Mullin said

By Landon Mion
Fox News

Published February 25, 2026 2:03am EST

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., on Tuesday urged spring breakers with plans to visit Mexico to cancel their trips due to violent clashes in the country triggered by the Mexican army’s killing of cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” earlier this week.

Mullin made the comments during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” in which he said his chiropractor was still planning to visit a popular tourist destination in Mexico.

“Anybody that’s planning on going to Mexico for spring break … I mean, my chiropractor called me yesterday and said he’s still planning on going to Cancún, I said, ‘Are you crazy?’” Mullin said.

“No one should be going down there right now, it is very volatile and the United States is laser-focused on watching what’s taking place,” he continued.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin urged spring breakers with plans to visit Mexico to cancel their trips.(Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The senator’s comments come after Mexican troops conducted operations on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, targeting El Mencho, a former police officer who became the leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, which U.S. authorities have identified as a major supplier of fentanyl to the United States.

El Mencho carried a $15 million U.S. bounty and rose to power following the arrest of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel. Over roughly the past 15 years, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación has expanded from a regional criminal group into a global trafficking organization operating from its stronghold in Jalisco.

The Mexican Defense Department said the operation was conducted as part of bilateral coordination and cooperation with the U.S., and that U.S. authorities provided complementary intelligence that contributed to El Mencho’s killing.

After El Mencho’s death, cartel members burned cars and blocked roads in several Mexican states. Violent clashes were also reported in parts of western Mexico.

Mexican authorities later said that the security situation had been “stabilized.”

Vehicles drive past a burning bus used as a roadblock by organized crime following a federal operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord El Mencho was killed, in Zapopan, Mexico.(Gabriel Trujillo/Reuters)

“The security situation has now stabilized following targeted operations in Jalisco,” the Mexican Embassy in the U.S. said on Tuesday.

“Federal and State authorities are proceeding to reopen transit corridors and restore public services smoothly,” the embassy continued. “Airline operations are normal, and international carriers are resuming flights today. Puerto Vallarta International Airport has reopened to domestic traffic.”

The embassy added: “If traveling through Jalisco, some local security measures remain in place, while authorities are restoring airport operations to full capacity. We are working with international partners to ensure safety and stability at all transit hubs and tourist destinations.”

But the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for Mexico remains in effect. The U.S. government earlier issued a shelter-in-place order for Americans in Mexico, but that order has since been lifted.

STATE DEPT SLAMMED WITH HUNDREDS OF CALLS FROM AMERICANS TRAPPED IN MEXICO

A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire, in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico.(AP Photo/Armando Solis)

The Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación is considered the most powerful cartel in Mexico with an estimated 19,000 members and operations across 21 of the country’s 32 states.

The Trump administration designated the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization.

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Mullin said on Tuesday that cartels splitting after Mexico’s operation is a “great opportunity for us, and Mexico, to take them all out.”

“Now, are we going to eliminate all the drug trafficking in the world? Absolutely not. But can we get a handle on it again? Absolutely,” he added.

因停车问题与邻居互殴 男子监一周罚7500元

发布/2026年2月25日 15:30 | 新明日报

谢震良星期二（2月24日）被判坐牢一周，罚款7500元。 （海峡时报）

洋房屋主和邻居因停车问题起纠纷，一年多来频频争吵甚至大打出手，后来卖屋搬家，过后被控上法庭，星期二（2月24日）判坐牢一周，罚款7500元。

被告是43岁的谢震良（译音），他面对18项包括恶作剧、滋事打架，以及抵触防止骚扰法令等控状。他承认其中四项，余项待法官下判时一并考虑。

案情显示，被告约2022年7月与家人搬到实龙岗一带大苑道（Tai Hwan Avenue）的私宅，不过他自2024年起便因停车位等问题，与隔壁邻居发生纠纷。

被告在2024年8月1日凌晨2时52分，因不满37岁男邻居将车子停在他家门前，与邻居争吵，被告拳打邻居脸部，邻居挥拳反击。

被告也朝邻居踢去，但被妻子制止，被告最后与邻居都跌在地上。邻居趁被告还没起身前拳打被告。

被告事后到盛港综合医院接受治疗，他手脚有三处擦伤，获四天病假。邻居则到陈笃生医院验伤，获一天病假。

2025年2月22日凌晨3时31分，被告在住家外的马路上烧冥纸。邻居担心车子被殃及，于是喷水将火浇灭。

被告当场与邻居大吵一架，用铁条敲打邻居家的铁门，导致邻居得花1000元至2000元修理。

邻居也对被告展开民事诉讼索赔，双方去年1月取得和解，被告赔偿邻居3393元8角。

被告为了不再与邻居发生纠纷，去年10月完成售屋手续，与家人搬离私宅。

法官星期二判刑后，批准被告申请，让他在3月4日开始服刑。

广州将在10月开启赛马赛事 媒体称隔30年重启

发布/2026年2月25日 15:37

今年10月，香港赛马会从化马场将正式举办常规速度赛马赛事。图为2月11日，赛驹在从化马场准备游泳。 （中新社）

今年开始，香港赛马会在广东省省会广州市的从化马场，将正式举办常规速度赛马赛事。

据《财经》报道，广州市发展和改革委员会党组书记、主任吴萨在广州两会期间，解读当地经济社会发展新动向时表示，2026年广州将推动签订新一轮穗港马产业战略合作协议，推动从化马场举办常规性国际赛马赛事，将谋划具有大湾区特色的赛马运动。

吴萨表示，广州将推进赛马运动与文旅产业融合发展，积极打造穗港马产业深度合作区。

广州市人大代表、从化区委书记赵龙也透露，从化马场将于今年10月底正式举办常规速度赛马赛事，标志着穗港马产业合作进入崭新阶段。

据界面新闻报道，在1990年代，广州曾发展出如火如荼的赛马运动，但因因难以摆脱博彩性质、非法投注等问题，广州赛马活动被叫停。

报道称，广州并不会简单复制博彩模式，接近政府方面人士称，从化马场赛事会定位为演示性赛事，“没有博彩、不能下注。”

立即订阅《联合早报》，了解中国时政动态，把握大中华区经济发展脉搏，解锁地区热点评析。

War Secretary Pete Hegseth appeals court ruling blocking Sen. Kelly punishment | Fox News

Justice Department files appeal on behalf of War Secretary Hegseth after judge blocked Pentagon from demoting Kelly’s military rank

By Michael Sinkewicz
Fox News

Published February 25, 2026 12:53am EST

War Secretary Pete Hegseth moved to reignite his high-profile clash with Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., on Tuesday, appealing a federal court ruling that blocked the Pentagon from punishing the Democratic lawmaker over a video urging U.S. service members to defy “illegal orders.”

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on behalf of Hegseth, the Department of War, the U.S. Navy and Navy Secretary John Phelan.

The filing follows a ruling earlier this month by U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, who determined the Pentagon likely violated Kelly’s First Amendment rights, and those of “millions of military retirees,” when it formally censured him on Jan. 5.

Leon blocked the Pentagon from demoting Kelly’s retired rank of captain or reducing his military retirement pay, prompting Hegseth to swiftly vow an appeal.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., says the appeal is an attempt to silence dissent after a judge ruled the Pentagon likely violated his First Amendment rights.(Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Kelly reacted to the latest move while reposting coverage of the appeal on X.

“These guys don’t know when to quit,” he wrote. “A federal judge told Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth that they violated my constitutional rights and chilled the free speech of millions of retired veterans.”

“There is only one reason to appeal that ruling: to keep trampling on the free speech rights of retired veterans and silence dissent,” Kelly continued. “I went to war to defend Americans’ constitutional rights and I won’t back down from this fight, no matter how far they want to take it.”

[KELLY FIRES BACK AT HEGSETH OVER CENSURE, SAYS HE’S NEVER BACKING DOWN]

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., speaks to members of the media outside federal court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026.(Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Hegseth previously fired back on X following the district court ruling, writing: “Sedition is sedition, ‘Captain.’”

In November, a group of Democratic lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds found themselves in hot water after posting a 90-second video urging service members to “refuse illegal orders.”

The video, which was first posted by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., also included military veteran Reps. Jason Crow of Colorado, Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania.

[MARK KELLY PRESSED ON WHETHER HE WOULD REFUSE ORDERS IF HE WAS STILL IN UNIFORM]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has appealed a federal court ruling that blocked efforts to discipline Sen. Mark Kelly over remarks advising service members to refuse “illegal orders.”(Omar Havana/Getty Images)

Hegseth previously said an investigation was launched into Kelly’s actions because he was the only lawmaker formally retired from the military and under the Pentagon’s jurisdiction.

A grand jury in Washington, D.C., rejected a DOJ effort to indict the group, further escalating tensions between the administration and its critics.

In his ruling, Leon wrote that Kelly is “likely to succeed” on the merits of his free speech claim and found he demonstrated irreparable harm.

President Donald Trump previously accused the group of lawmakers of “sedition at the highest level.”

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP]

Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of War and Department of Justice for comment. Sen. Kelly’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.

【视频】极现场：外媒镜头下的新疆再观察 | 联合早报

发布时间：2026年2月25日 15:38 | 来源：联合早报

经过早年的冲突暴乱、西方国家接连制裁、人权问题的持续舆论关注后，今天的新疆有哪些发展和变化？

新疆地方两会（人大、政协年会）今年1月26日开幕，《联合早报》受官方邀请前往乌鲁木齐采访。这也是中国官方第三次邀请外国媒体报道新疆两会。

在官方行程之外，记者也在乌鲁木齐及周边地区走访，探访少数民族聚居区的日常生活，并前往距离首府约150公里的兵团城市石河子，观察这座典型兵团城市的发展现状。

点击视频，看本报前线记者的记录与观察。

立即订阅《联合早报》，了解中国时政动态，把握大中华区经济发展脉搏，解锁地区热点评析。

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260225-8636030

特朗普国情咨文四个要点 | 联合早报

发布时间：2026年2月25日 15:53 | 来源：联合早报

特朗普在2月24日的演说中多次抨击民主党人反美，称他们的行为损害国家利益，凸显了特朗普的国情咨文日益浓厚的党派色彩。 （路透社）

美国总统特朗普星期二（2月24日）晚向国会联席会议发表年度国情咨文。

在特朗普发表国情咨文之时，美国与伊朗的关系越来越紧绷，美国选民对高昂生活费日益感到不满。对白宫来说，特朗普的这场演说堪比11月中期选举前的一个关键时刻，能否巩固共和党选民的支持就看特朗普的这场表演。

美国首席大法官罗伯茨（左）和另外五名大法官投票上周裁定特朗普无权援引《国际紧急经济权力法》。两人2月24日在国会联席会议上握手寒暄。（法新社）

以下是由路透社整理，特朗普在国情咨文中提出的要点：

• 风险重重

特朗普将经济问题置于演讲的核心，这表明他的幕僚数周敦促他更多谈论经济的努力奏效。

特朗普广泛触及一系列与民生息息相关的经济问题，包括住房、医疗保健、水电费、犯罪、退休。但他依然避而不谈许多美国人仍在为高昂的生活费苦苦挣扎，其中包括食品和房价。

一些党内策略师警告，如果不对通货膨胀问题发出更明确的信号，特朗普领导的共和党在中期选举将面临失去国会控制权的风险。

特朗普称通货膨胀、抵押贷款利率、汽油价格都在下降，而股市、石油产量、外国直接投资、建筑业和制造业就业都在蓬勃发展。

但政府数据显示，去年通货膨胀率有所上升，制造业就业岗位却有所减少，整体就业增长乏力。虽然自特朗普重返白宫以来，一些商品例如鸡蛋的价格有所下降，但食品和其他商品的价格总体上仍持续上涨。

选民告诉民调机构，他们对经济感到焦虑，并对特朗普处理经济问题的方式感到不满。路透社/益普索的民调显示，56%的受访者不认可特朗普对经济的处理方式，只有36%表示认可。

• 棘手议题

特朗普辩称，共和党理应继续掌控国会两年，因为共和党在经济、移民、公共安全方面表现出色。但除了这些政策议题之外，他还向选民发出更具情感冲击力的呼吁，要求他们支持共和党。

特朗普以“疯子”来形容在国会投票反对他的大部分立法提案、认为他削弱了民主制度的民主党议员。

他说：“民主党正在摧毁这个国家，但我们及时阻止了这一切。”

特朗普在演讲中多次抨击民主党人反美，并称他们的行为损害国家利益，凸显了特朗普的年度国情咨文日益浓厚的党派色彩。

坐在席位上的民主党人明显愤怒，共和党人则纷纷起立，不断为特朗普针对性别政治、非法移民、犯罪等问题的讲话鼓掌。

格林（Al Green）、奥马尔（Ilhan Omar）、特莱布（Rashida Tlaib）等民主党代表，对特朗普的讲话大声回应。对这些民主党人来说，特朗普对这些问题的观点具有分裂性和争议，并激怒了他们的大部分支持者。

• 开战理由

在特朗普发表国情咨文前，人们最关心的其中一个问题是，他最终会不会详细交代对伊朗开战的理由，以及说明美国在中东大规模军事集结的原因。

特朗普演讲了一个多小时才终于提到伊朗。但他只是简单地重复了他一贯的说辞，声称必须阻止伊朗获得核武器。至于是否会向伊朗动武，他没有提供半点提示，而军事行动正是国内外各方极为关注事。

在演讲前75分钟里，特朗普只是略微提及委内瑞拉，俄罗斯和乌克兰几乎完全没有被提到。特朗普一直执着于吞并格陵兰岛，这一争端令跨大西洋关系紧张，但他却只字未提。

尽管特朗普在演讲后半段花了相当多时间讨论美国政府一直在努力解决的冲突，但考虑到他近期在外交上投入大量的时间和政治资本，此次演说缺乏对国家安全和外交政策的直接表态，显得尤为引人注目。

最近几周，特朗普派了他最信任的心腹到遥远的国家，试图解决俄乌战争并与伊朗进行谈判。上个月，美国罢黜了委内瑞拉总统马杜罗，并投入大量的时间和精力来处理与这个南美国家的关系。

• 特朗普基本保持既定立场

以特朗普自身的标准来看，他在2月24日的表现可谓严谨自律，基本遵循事先准备好的讲稿，避免了以往那种在演讲中插科打诨，令人摸不着头脑的讲话，也极少诉诸人身攻击。

当特朗普走进众议院议事厅时，他甚至与最高法院大法官们握手，尽管在几天前，他辱骂投票否决对等关税的六名大法官是“笨蛋和走狗”。

与特朗普过去一些演讲中常见的种族歧视言论和侮辱移民的言辞相比，这次演讲显得温和许多。

按大多数政治人物的标准来看，特朗普这场国情咨文演讲无疑是糟糕的。他用极其露骨的语言描述一名乌克兰移民被谋杀的经过。但对特朗普来说，这次演讲算是一次“切合主题”的表演。

特朗普的顾问们——其中一些长期以来一直敦促特朗普避免过激的言辞，以免中间派和独立选民产生疏离感——可能因此松了一口气。

Trump staged a State of the Union spectacle. But he couldn’t escape political gravity

Published Feb 25, 2026, 2:00 AM ET / Source: CNN

Analysis by

[Stephen Collinson]

31 min ago

President Donald Trump went to a hockey victory party on Tuesday night and a State of the Union Address broke out.

Trump weaved a pageant of national unity, rampant prosperity and American greatness in the opening stanzas of his annual report on “the hottest country in the world” at a moment when his popularity is near historic lows. His habitual search for silver linings wasn’t just for show. He needed to use his biggest TV audience of the year to win back Americans souring on his one-time strengths on immigration and economic policy.

The president took inspiration from members of the Olympic gold medal-winning Team USA men’s hockey team in the gallery of the House of Representatives — who Sunday pulled off the rare feat in a tortured political age of giving both red and blue America something to cheer.

Skillful, moving tributes to American heroes punctuated the speech — that often resembled an awards ceremony and a patriotic dress rehearsal for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations later this year. Trump leavened his abrasive image by doling out honors,including to a 100-year-old Korean War Veteran, and reunited a woman with her uncle who was freed from a prison in Venezeuela.

“Our country is winning again. In fact, we’re winning so much that we really don’t know what to do about it,” Trump said. “People are asking me, ‘Please, please, please, Mister President, we’re winning too much. We can’t take it anymore.’”

The true Trump doesn’t stay hidden for long

Yet as the longest-ever State of the Union address dragged deep into its second hour, the old Trump was back. The president lashed out at Democrats for not standing to cheer him, branding them “sick” and reminding some voters why they don’t like him — with tirades against undocumented migrants and false claims of election cheating.

Still, optics are important for aging, second term presidents. And Trump projected energy and vigor, commanding the chamber and underscoring, for all his divisiveness, that he’s still the nation’s dominant political personality. Apart from some bitter asides, Trump managed to control his temper and mood. Republicans who fear his rambling angry tirades will be relieved that he at least gave the best possible rendition of their message for their most devoted voters.

It was especially important for the 79-year-old to quell a background narrative that he’s increasingly a lame duck, especially after the Supreme Court Friday triggered his fury by knocking back his tariffs in the worst defeat since he returned to the White House. Trump shouted so loudly, as when he proclaimed he’d engineered “a turnaround for the ages,” that he distorted the sound from his microphone.

But the question dogging the president as he rode up to Capitol Hill in his Beast limousine was whether he could change the political trajectory of a year that is trending poorly for Republicans nine months before midterm elections.

A new CNN/SSRS poll this week showed just 32% of Americans think he has the right priorities. His approval rating among adults has dipped to just 36%.

So, it was imperative for Trump to demonstrate to voters who recalled him for a rare non-consecutive second term that he has answers — especially on the crisis of affordability that has hounded them for years.

A selective picture of a hurting country

But while Trump conjured truly affecting moments Tuesday, it was hard to believe that he’d transformed negative perceptions of his leadership that has Republicans fearing a meltdown in November.

The President does have some good economic news to share. He’s right that inflation is lower than at the record-breaking peaks of the Biden administration. The price of eggs — one of his favorite staple economic metrics — is down — as farmers restock their flocks after an avian flu epidemic.

Yet often, his claims for an economic resurgence were selective. Grocery prices are still higher than is comfortable for most American voters. He promised to overhaul health care — as he’s being doing for each of his five years in the White House — although has never advanced a serious proposal through Congress.

His claims to have slashed the prices of prescription drugs overstates the impact of the proposal and ignores the way he’s presided over the expiry of Affordable Care Act subsidies that has made health care unaffordable for millions of people.

Voters will filter the salesman president’s promises through their lived experience. For many, his claim of a new economic “golden age” won’t survive their next trips to the supermarket.

Trump tramples his message of unity

Trump prospers politically when he can identify an enemy.

“You caused that problem,” he told Democrats in the House chamber as he fulminated about affordability. But voters delivered their verdicts on former President Joe Biden’s administration in November 2024.

Trump could turn this around — by spending every day of every week until the midterm elections working to address affordability — perhaps with rallies outside grocery stores or by hauling lawmakers down to the White House to cajole them into passing bills.

But he spends more time using government to seek vengeance against his enemies, threatening American allies, and churning out vitriol on his social media feeds than he does in empathizing with the cost of living.

And familiarity may be breeding contempt. He’s dominated the national political psyche for more than a decade. By now, there can’t be many Americans who’ve not made up their minds. And there seemed little in Tuesday’s speech to reassure Black male, Hispanic and independent voters who ditched Democrats for him in 2024 and expanded his coalition to stick with the GOP next time.

And the longer he spoke, Trump undermined his message of unity. His fierce attacks on Somali migrants invoked the recent showdown between ICE agents and protestors in Minnesota that alienated many independent voters. Trump did not mention Renee Good and Alex Pretti who were killed by federal agents.

He spent long minutes defending policies that a majority of voters’ dislike. Like tariffs — that are helping to spike costs. And Trump injected new poison into American democracy by reviving his false claims he won the 2020 election and seemed to lay the groundwork for a new election morass in November. “They have cheated, and their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat,” he said of Democrats.

Trump’s address took place amid the biggest US military build-up in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 as a new showdown looms with Iran.

“I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror, which they are, by far, to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen,” he said, without explaining how this was possible given he claims to have “obliterated” such aspirations in a US raid last year. Trump says he wants a deal. But the president who first came to office vowing no more foreign wars looks increasingly likely to start a new one.

Trump needed to tell a fresh story Tuesday night.

But he ended up demonstrating instead that while the country can unite to cheer a new Miracle on Ice, a political coming together remains an impossible dream.