On the eve of the State of the Union, the American people are not looking for lofty promises. They are looking for proof. They want to know whether the government they voted for is finally delivering for the families, workers, and small businesses who felt forgotten for far too long.
President Donald J. Trump is delivering — and the results are measurable.
When voters returned President Trump to the White House in 2024, they chose strength over stagnation and results over rhetoric. They chose an America First agenda grounded in affordability, economic growth, healthcare reform, and industrial revival. One year later, that decision is paying dividends.
Inflation, which peaked above 9 percent in 2022, has cooled significantly under Trump’s leadership. Stabilizing prices has restored predictability to family budgets and small business planning. Energy costs, a major driver of inflation, have eased as domestic production surged following regulatory rollbacks and expanded federal leasing. Gasoline prices have averaged below $3 per gallon nationally for much of the past year — a meaningful difference for commuters, truckers, farmers, and working parents. Trump understands that affordable energy is the backbone of affordability across the economy, and his decisive actions to restore American energy dominance are delivering real relief.
Economic confidence is strengthening alongside energy production. Private-sector investment in U.S. manufacturing and industrial capacity has accelerated, with tens of billions of dollars committed to new domestic facilities in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and critical supply chains. These investments translate into high-paying construction jobs, skilled trade careers, and long-term economic resilience. President Trump has made it clear that the era of shipping American jobs overseas is over, and companies are responding by bringing production back home.
Healthcare affordability has been one of the Trump-Vance Administration’s most consequential priorities. Through the Most-Favored-Nation drug pricing initiative, the White House has secured agreements with 16 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies to make U.S. prices no higher than those in other developed countries, a principle that will save billions for patients and taxpayers alike. These deals include major reductions on common medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and HIV, with examples like cutting the price of Plavix to as low as $16 and certain insulin products to $35 per month when purchased through TrumpRx, a transformative government platform that gives Americans direct access to dramatically lower prices on dozens of common, high-cost brand-name prescription drugs.
Collectively, these agreements promise substantial price relief and ensure American patients are no longer subsidizing cheaper drugs abroad.
Alongside drug pricing, the Make America Healthy Again initiative is reshaping health care across the country. The administration’s Working Families Tax Cuts Act authorized a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program — the largest investment ever aimed at strengthening rural health access — with every state receiving awards to modernize facilities, expand the rural health workforce, and improve care quality. In 2026 alone, states are receiving hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize facilities, expand access, and prevent closures in underserved communities. For families in small towns who previously faced long drives for essential care, this commitment represents security and dignity.
Workforce development is another pillar of this resurgence. The Trump-Vance Administration’s America’s Talent Strategy presents a government-wide blueprint to prepare American workers for high-demand jobs in manufacturing, technology, and advanced industries. It emphasizes expanding apprenticeships, aligning education with employer needs, and equipping the workforce for an AI-driven economy in a way that keeps good jobs here at home. President Trump understands that the American Dream depends on opportunity tied to work — and he is rebuilding that ladder.
None of these gains happened by accident. They are the result of clear, America First priorities and decisive leadership. President Trump promised to put American workers first, restore energy independence, lower costs, and rebuild domestic industry. He has followed through.
As the State of the Union approaches, the contrast is unmistakable. The forgotten men and women of this country are seeing a government that finally places their interests above global elites and entrenched bureaucracies. Parents filling prescriptions at lower prices, workers returning to revitalized plants, families paying less at the pump — these are the markers of a country moving in the right direction.
The work is not finished. But the foundation is strong, and the direction is clear. President Trump has restored momentum to the American economy, renewed confidence in American industry, and delivered meaningful relief to working families.
That is not just a political achievement. It is a national one.
Jenn Pellegrino is President and Founder of Defend Forgotten America. She previously served as primetime host for Newsmax.
Jorge Martinez is Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at Defend Forgotten America. He previously served as press secretary for the U.S. Department of Justice.
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)
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