Editor’s Note: a guest post from Ethan Vogin. a second-year LSU law student from Baton Rouge.

On Tuesday, President Trump delivered his first official State of the Union Address of his second term—one of his best. President Trump’s performance Tuesday night gave Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Thune the platform of a lifetime, setting the standard for the 2026 Midterms for the GOP.

As brilliant as the speech was, one section must be criticized and flat-out rejected. When discussing his signature foreign policy tool, tariffs, President Trump said, “[T]hen just four days ago, an unfortunate ruling from the United States Supreme Court, it just came down, came down. Very unfortunate ruling.” Criticizing the Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law is antithetical to the Constitution. It was wrong when President Obama did it in his 2010 State of the Union Address after Citizens United v. FEC, and it was wrong for President Trump to do it now.

Despite this, the President’s celebration of 250 years of American Independence was powerful. He set the tone of his speech by opening with a profound truth: “This July 4th, we will mark two and a half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of the earth.”

Aside from the economy, Immigration was the biggest issue many ran on in 2024. President Trump delivered on this promise, stating Tuesday night that, “In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States.” Equally as amazing, fentanyl trafficking across the Southern Border is down 56%. President Trump delivered the moment of the night by challenging Congress, saying, “If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” Disappointingly, but not surprisingly, almost every Democrat in the room remained seated. Every single Democrat who remained seated was elected by American citizens, and yet could not even rise to support those citizens over illegal aliens.

The President also urged Congress to pass the Save America Act, requiring Voter ID and verification of U.S. Citizenship to vote in federal elections. You already need an ID to: enter a federal building; buy a gun, cigars, and alcohol; open a bank account; and enlist in the military. To say we should have all of these safeguards in other facets of life, but not our elections, is asinine. Anyone can get a photo ID in 2026; to say otherwise is dehumanizing, undignified, and dishonest.

President Trump recognized our brave Armed Forces throughout the night. Amongst the many recognized, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Staff Sergeant Scott Ruskin was awarded the Legion of Merit for his actions during the Texas Floods, which led to the saving of over 150 lives. The Purple Heart was awarded to Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and posthumously to Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. These awards come from the horrific attack on the National Guard in Washington, D.C. by a radical Islamic terrorist immigrant from Afghanistan, let into our country unvetted, under President Biden.

President Trump ended the night where he began, celebrating 250 years of American exceptionalism. He said, “The revolution that began in 1776 has not ended. It still continues because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the heart of every American patriot and our future will be bigger, better, brighter, bolder, and more glorious than ever before.” I tell people in my life that “the human spirit yearns for liberty, and the American spirit yearns to dream.” Dreaming, as in living your American Dream, the greatest example of liberty. Let’s dream big again, America.

Great work, Mr. President.