Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the Democratic Party’s official response on Tuesday night following President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, sharply questioning his policies on the economy, immigration enforcement and national leadership.
Speaking from Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia — a symbolic setting linked to America’s early resistance to British rule — Spanberger framed her remarks around a series of direct questions to Americans about whether they believe life has improved under Trump’s second term.
“Is the president working to make life more affordable for you and your family? We all know the answer is no,” Spanberger said, challenging assertions from Trump’s speech about rising prosperity. She highlighted ongoing concerns about affordability, criticizing tariffs, rising costs of housing and healthcare, and what she called “chaos” under current federal policies.
Spanberger also took aim at Trump’s immigration enforcement tactics, arguing that poorly trained federal agents have been sent into American cities and asserting that the administration’s approach brings instability rather than safety.
Her approximately 12‑minute rebuttal was positioned by Democrats as a contrast to Trump’s nearly two‑hour address to Congress, with party leaders seeking to foreground economic and social issues — particularly affordability — ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Spanberger’s message builds on her recent gubernatorial victory in Virginia, where she campaigned heavily on cost‑of‑living concerns.
Spanberger’s response also underscored broader Democratic critiques of Trump’s leadership, including accusations of prioritizing personal interests and fostering division. She argued that the foundational values of the country — reflected in the site of her address — are at odds with what she described as current policy directions.
Her remarks were part of a larger set of responses from Democratic voices, including separate Spanish‑language rebuttals and alternative programming planned by some party members.
