WASHINGTON D.C. – During President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, Texas was brought up three times. Keep reading to see how tragedy, the American Dream, and the “Golden Age of America” all tied back to Texas. The state came up two more times during the Democratic response delivered by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, bringing the total to five references across the night.
Keep reading for a breakdown of every time Texas was mentioned.
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July 4th Hill Country Floods
The first time Texas was mentioned last night was when the President recounted the tragic flood event that “tore through” Camp Mystic last summer, claiming 27 lives, many of them were children.
The President described how floodwaters in Central Texas rose rapidly, overwhelming the area and prompting large-scale rescue efforts. Then, he highlighted the actions of Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Scott Ruskan, who descended from a helicopter and helped lift an 11-year-old girl and 164 others to safety.
Ruskan was present at the address and was awarded the Legion of Merit for what the President called “extraordinary heroism.”
American Dream Pillar: Homeownership
The second time Texas was brought up was when the President turned to what he described as a core pillar of the American Dream-homeownership. A woman named Rachel Wiggins was introduced as a mother of two from Houston who, according to the President, placed bids on 20 homes but lost each one to large investment firms that paid cash and converted the properties into rentals.
Using Wiggins’ story, the President criticized large Wall Street investment companies for purchasing single-family homes in bulk. He referenced a recent executive order aimed at limiting large investment firms from buying up thousands of single-family and called on Congress to make the ban permanent.
The Golden Age of America
Texas was referenced a third time near the end of the speech, as the President described what he repeatedly called the “Golden Age of America.”
In painting a picture of national pride and renewal ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary, he cited regions across the nation- including “the rugged border towns of Texas,” as symbols of American resilience and strength.
Powering the AI Era
Although Texas was only mentioned three times directly, the state’s influence surfaced again during the President’s remarks on AI data centers and energy use. He announced a “ratepayer protection pledge” requiring major tech companies to build their own power plants to prevent rising electricity costs, a significant point for Texas, which ranks second nationally for data centers.
Student Protests and the Governor of Texas
Texas was first mentioned as Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger discussed student-led school walkouts happening across the country. She said the Governor of Texas was attempting to silence students “whose voices are becoming so powerful”.
State Legislative Shifts in Texas
Texas was brought up a second time in the Democratic response when Spanberger highlighted recent Democratic gains in state legislatures. She listed Texas, alongside Georgia, Iowa, and Mississippi as states where seats were flipped, pointing to what she describes as shifting political momentum nationwide.