On February 25th, Donald Trump delivered his annual State of the Union address in Congress, focusing primarily on domestic policy while also touching on foreign affairs.
Rubio Receives Highest Praise
During the speech, Trump highlighted the work of White House envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, but reserved his highest praise for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he called “the man who reports to me.”
Trump addressed Rubio directly, saying “You did a great job. You are a great Secretary of State.” He also claimed that Rubio could go down in history as the “best” Secretary of State, noting his 99-0 Senate confirmation. Trump shared a conversation with Rubio about Democrats changing their stance, with some reportedly saying they can’t believe they confirmed him, to which Rubio responded that it was an honor they thought so.
Trump Considering Successors
According to Axios, Trump is querying his advisors and allies about who should be his successor. Currently, Vice President J.D. Vance is considered the frontrunner, with an established advisory network and leading in polls.
However, Trump’s increasingly frequent public praise of Rubio suggests he is also being considered as a potential successor. Rubio’s role as Secretary of State places him at the center of global events, which Trump appreciates.
An Axios source indicated that Trump’s ideal 2028 ticket would be Vance-Rubio, with Vance as president and Rubio as vice president, though the reverse scenario is also being considered.
US Economy and Achievements
Trump claimed that under his leadership, the United States has entered a golden age. He asserted that he inherited the country in a catastrophic state from Joe Biden, but now, after just over a year, he can proudly say they’ve made an unprecedented transformation.
The president maintained that he had increased job numbers, lowered inflation and drug prices, and secured the country’s southern border. He declared, “We were a dead country, but now we are the hottest country.”
In his characteristic style, Trump announced that Americans are tired of constant success, but he promised even greater victories. He invited the US ice hockey team as guests to Congress, one of the few moments when both Republicans and Democrats gave a standing ovation.
