Trump’s State of the Union: Doubling Down?

Gilberto Araujo

Posted March 4, 2026

Trump before giving his State of the Union speech in February 2026. He did not use the speech to motivate the bombing of Iran just a few days later. (White House photo)

EARLY EACH YEAR, the President of the United States delivers the State of the Union address before Congress, presenting an assessment of the country and outlining future priorities.

That Trump’s most recent speech, on February 24, was a horror show comes as no surprise when Trump is involved. What does deserve attention, however, is that the president escalated his rhetoric at a moment when his policies are increasingly isolated and his popularity is declining — unlike the situation a year ago.

There are two ways to interpret the Republican president’s stance. On the one hand, the tone he adopted may prove to be a massive blunder, deepening his isolation and leading to defeat in the midterm elections this coming November. On the other hand, the president may have signaled that, fully aware of his falling approval ratings, he intends to push the far-right movement toward an all-or-nothing strategy.

Just days after the speech, the United States — together with the genocidal regime of Israel — launched the war currently raging in Iran.

Several elements of the speech pointed in the direction of doubling down, albeit sometimes ambiguously. The backbone of the speech remained nationalism and the promise of a U.S. “golden age,” echoing neo-fascist rhetoric.

On the economic front, the president refused to confront the country’s reality, in which most of the population continues to complain about inflation and the high cost of living. Instead, he attacked the Supreme Court for blocking tariffs and doubled down on their reimposition — this time at a rate of 10% to 15% on imports from around the world.

Iran aside, Trump’s statements on foreign policy aligned with the new National Security Strategy released in December. With a particular focus on the Americas, as demonstrated by the attack on Venezuela, this document marks the assertion of a new level of U.S. imperialism’s aggressiveness and neocolonialism.

Threatening Immigrants and the Elections

It was in domestic politics that the all-or-nothing insinuation was most clearly expressed. Beyond the habitual vulgarity and aggression with which he addressed his opponents, Trump doubled down on two issues: immigration and elections.

Although defeated in the Minneapolis showdown and currently not sponsoring another concentrated ICE operation of the same kind (even as the agency continues to operate nationwide), the president once again launched racist attacks against immigrants, including the Somali community in Minneapolis.

In response, Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib shouted toward the president, holding him responsible for the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. It became clear that the battle over ICE’s repressive policies will unfold in successive phases and is only just beginning.

As for elections — the right wing’s looming threat to bourgeois democracy — Trump once again proclaimed the existence of electoral fraud, claimed that Democrats only win by cheating, and called for “urgent action” by Congress (currently under Republican control) regarding the midterms. Days earlier, the official White House social media account had posted a video suggesting a “popular appeal” for a third Trump term.

When it comes to Trump, it is always difficult to distinguish political theater from a real offensive. At the same time, fascist politics are characterized by repeated probes and insinuations until an actual attempt to upend the system is made. It should also be recalled that in 2020 Trump was recorded ordering Georgia officials to “find” the extra votes he needed to win the election he lost to Joe Biden. An attempt at electoral fraud by Trump would not be unprecedented — it would be a repeat offense.

Time to Act

Regardless of speculation, what matters now is that the broad movement opposing Trumpist neo-fascism be prepared to act. This includes electoral organizing for the midterms, on the one hand, but also the continuation of street mobilization, on the other.

Another No Kings Day has been called for March 28 and is expected to incorporate opposition to the war in Iran into its agenda. Rapid-response organizations against ICE are spreading across the country, inspired by Minneapolis.

Recent strikes — such as those by New York nurses and San Francisco teachers — have secured victories. Preparations for large-scale mobilizations on May Day are growing. Political consciousness nationwide has advanced, driven by the force of reality itself.

It’s also necessary to point out the close connection between Trump’s foreign and domestic policies. In this context, the First International Antifascist Conference (Brazil, March 26-29) takes on particular importance.

The event is expected to bring together thousands of activists from dozens of countries across all continents. It represents a powerful initiative aimed at filling the gap created by the lack of international coordination on the left to confront the rise of the far right. Amid a diversity of opinions, traditions and political orientations, unity in action against neofascism will set the tone, prioritizing the task of pushing back against Trump and American imperialism internationally.

If Trump moves toward an all-or-nothing gamble against the American people and the world, it is necessary to be ready to defend democracy, civil liberties, and the rights of the working class — and to consign Trump to what he deserves: the dustbin of history.

Gilberto Araujo is a Brazilian sociologist, a member of the National Executive of MES/PSOL (Socialist Left Movement / Socialism and Liberty Party), and a member of the IV International.

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