JAMES CARTER: The State Of The Union Speech President Trump Should—And Could—Deliver

Tonight, I come before Congress not to recite grievances. I come to report the results.

For too long, Americans were told that decline was inevitable —that we had to accept bad trade deals, closed factories, poisoned streets, soaring prices, and a federal government that spent more and delivered less. We were told that strength was “provocative,” borders were “old-fashioned,” and that America should apologize rather than lead. Those days are over.

This administration chose a different path: leverage instead of lectures, results instead of rhetoric, and America First not as a slogan, but as a governing principle.

Take tariffs—perhaps the most misunderstood tool in modern economic policy. For decades, our leaders treated tariffs as a dirty word, even as foreign nations used them freely against American workers and businesses. We changed that. Tariffs are not an end in themselves; they are leverage. When used strategically, they produce wins.

We used that leverage to confront the flow of fentanyl and its chemical precursors into our country. For years, Americans buried their sons and daughters while politicians issued press releases. We applied real economic pressure on countries that looked the other way as deadly drugs crossed borders. The message was simple: if you want access to the American market, you must act responsibly. Cooperation followed, and lives are being saved.

We also used tariffs to do what past administrations promised but never delivered: lowering unfair tariff and non-tariff barriers on American goods. Foreign governments quietly taxed our exports, manipulated regulations, and shut out U.S. companies, while enjoying near-total access to our markets. That imbalance is changing. Our farmers, manufacturers, and innovators are finally competing on a level field.

The result? Something remarkable happened. Instead of capital fleeing America, investment started pouring in. Trillions of dollars in foreign and domestic investment are being committed to build factories, expand energy production, develop advanced manufacturing, and create jobs that cannot be outsourced. Companies are choosing to build here because America is once again strong, predictable, and unapologetic about defending its interests.

And while Washington debated abstractions, Americans felt something more tangible: affordability—or, more precisely, the lack of it.

For too long, families were crushed under skyrocketing prices—a crisis worsened under the previous administration’s failed economic policies. Energy costs, grocery bills, rent, and everyday essentials soared while politicians offered excuses. Today, our policies are turning the tide. Supply chains are stabilizing, energy is more secure and affordable, and prices are starting to ease. We are taking real, measurable steps to defeat inflation and restore the purchasing power of every American.

That same philosophy shaped my One Big Beautiful Bill—a comprehensive effort to restore common sense to federal policy. It rewards work, simplifies a broken system, reins in waste, and puts American families and businesses first. It is not about growing government for its own sake; it is about making government work for the people who pay for it.

And while Washington debates abstractions, Americans feel something even more essential: safety.

Across much of the country, crime is coming down. Criminals are being held accountable instead of released to reoffend. Communities are safer because we made a clear choice: we stand with victims, not repeat offenders; with police officers, not political talking points. Public safety is not a partisan issue—it is a civil right.

None of this happened by accident. It happened because we rejected the idea that America must manage decline. We rejected the false choice between prosperity and security, fairness and strength, leadership and humility. America can be confident without being reckless, generous without being naïve, and powerful without apology.

There is more work to do—and it must be done now. Supply chains must be fortified without compromise. Borders must be secured once and for all. Inflation must be crushed so that American families can afford the essentials of life. For years, the previous administration allowed prices to spiral, eroding wages and opportunity. We are reversing that trajectory—and we will not stop until every household feels relief.

And the federal government must never, not for a single day, forget this simple truth: it exists to serve the American people—not the other way around.

But tonight, one thing is clear: the country is winning again.

We are respected abroad, rebuilding at home, restoring affordability, and reclaiming the belief that the future belongs to us. That belief—grounded in action, not slogans—is the true state of our union.

And it has never been stronger.

 James Carter is a Principal with Navigators Global. He previously served as Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor (2006-07) and as the Director of the America First Policy Institute’s Center for American Prosperity (2021-23).

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

(Featured Image Media Credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)