ABC News Daily Trump’s theatrics at the State of the Union
Feb 25, 2026
Emma Shortis, Director of the Australia Institute’s International & Security Affairs Program and US politics expert. She dissects Trump’s record‑setting, theatrical State of the Union. Shortis highlights his immigration rhetoric, economic claims that clash with public experience, and mixed foreign‑policy signals on Iran. She also discusses election‑integrity messaging and the midterm stakes.
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Trump's Theatrical Narrative Control
- Donald Trump deliberately used theatrical repetition and grand claims to restate that he alone fixed a nation in crisis.
- Emma Shortis noted he framed one-year turnaround narratives and record-breaking length to dictate public narrative and energise his base.
Immigration Used As A Political Weapon
- Immigration was a centerpiece used to demonise opponents and appeal to Trump's base with vivid crime stories.
- Shortis said Trump invoked graphic examples and asked the chamber to stand, using xenophobic rhetoric to pit Americans against each other.
Irina Zaretska Story Used To Humanise Border Policy
- Trump described the murder of Irina Zaretska in graphic terms to personalise his border argument.
- Emma Shortis highlighted how he relishes violent detail and forces victims' stories onto global television stages.