Spanberger Delivers Democratic Rebuttal to Trump’s State of the Union, Focusing on Affordability

WASHINGTON (AP) — Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger offered a sharp contrast to President Donald Trump’s depiction of the nation as being in a “golden age” during his State of the Union address, arguing in her Democratic rebuttal that costs remain high for many Americans more than a year into his second term. Her message, that families are still struggling under Trump’s policies, is one Democrats plan to carry nationwide ahead of the midterm elections. Party leaders point to Spanberger’s victory in Virginia last November as validation of a disciplined, cost-focused campaign they now hope to replicate across the country.

“Democrats across the country are laser-focused on affordability in our nation’s capital and in state capitals and communities across America,” said Spanberger. “In the most innovative and exceptional nation in the history of the world, Americans deserve to know that their leaders are focused on addressing the problems that preserve them up at night.”

Spanberger Questions Whether Trump is Working for Americans

Speaking from Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum in Virginia, Spanberger structured her speech around a series of direct 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?”

She contrasted these questions with what she described as the reality under Trump, stating he “has sent poorly trained federal agents into our cities, where they have arrested and detained American citizens and people who aspire to be Americans.” She added that Trump seeks to “pit us against one another” while “enriching himself, his family, his friends.”

“This is not what our founders envisioned. Not by a long shot,” said Spanberger. “So I’ll ask again: Is the president working for you? We all know the answer is no.”

Time Constraints and Trump’s Address

Spanberger had approximately 13 minutes to deliver her rebuttal, significantly less time than President Trump’s address, which lasted just over an hour and 48 minutes – the longest State of the Union address in history.

During his speech, Trump described a nation experiencing lower costs than when he initially took office, declaring, “This is the golden age of America.” He also frequently prompted reactions from the Democratic side of the House chambers, criticizing their lack of response and labeling his opponents “crazy.” Texas Rep. Al Green was removed from the chamber shortly after the address began for holding a protest sign.

Democratic Response Beyond the Rebuttal

Outside the chamber, Democrats who had skipped Trump’s speech participated in counterprogramming events, including a “People’s State of the Union” featuring Democratic lawmakers, state and local leaders, and celebrities. Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland stated at the event, “We know our state of the union. We know it is under attack.”

Democrats Focus on November Midterms

Democrats believe the political landscape is shifting in their favor. Spanberger’s win in Virginia was followed by other Democratic victories, including a special election in Texas where a Democrat flipped a reliably Republican state Senate district that Trump carried by 17 percentage points in 2024.

In a Spanish-language response to Trump’s address, California Sen. Alex Padilla described the nation as “living a nightmare that divides and destroys our communities” and urged viewers to “prepare, starting today, for your voice to reverberate this November.” Padilla referenced a previous incident where he was forcefully removed from a Homeland Security news conference while questioning immigration raids, stating, “They may have knocked me down for a moment, but I got right back up…I am still here. Standing. Still fighting.”

Spanberger aimed to connect Republicans in Congress closely to Trump as Democrats seek to gain control of the House and Senate in November, warning that additional tariffs would increase costs and criticizing their unwillingness to challenge the president. “They’re making your life harder. They’re making your life more expensive,” she said.