Trump breaks Bill Clinton’s record with longest 1 hour 48 minute State of the Union address

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union speech has become the longest in history. The 47th US commander-in-chief reportedly spoke for one hour and 48 minutes, surpassing his own record of one hour and 39 minutes when he addressed Congress in 2025.

Before Trump, former president Bill Clinton delivered a lengthy State of the Union address in 2000 that reportedly lasted 1 hour, 28 minutes, and 49 seconds.

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At the time, Clinton had said, “Tonight is special, because we stand on the mountaintop of a new millennium. Behind us we see the great expanse of American achievement; before us, even grander frontiers of possibility.”

However, in contrast to the longer speeches, the 37th president, Richard Nixon, spoke for only 28 minutes and 55 seconds during his January 20, 1972, State of the Union address.

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Meanwhile, during the Tuesday, February 24, address, Trump spoke about his first year in office while touting his policies. “After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before,” he said on Capitol Hill.

He also honored many service members and guests as he presented the Medal of Honor to 100-year-old veteran E Royce Williams for his actions on a secret mission during the Korean War. Praising Williams, Trump declared, “Tonight, at 100 years old, this brave Navy captain is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He was a legend long before this evening.”

Retired Navy Captain E Royce Williams receives the Medal of Honor from first lady Melania Trump during President Trump's State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the US Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a US military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The Medal of Honor was also given to Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, who was injured in the raid to capture Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.

Trump says American revolution 'has not ended' yet

While concluding his speech, the Republican leader offered a positive vision for the future. He added, “These first 250 years were just the beginning. The revolution that began in 1776 has not ended. it still continues, because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the hearts of every American patriot.”