A State of the Union Built on Lies
When a president cannot tell the truth, it is because the truth condemns him
By Dr. John Petrone
Last night’s State of the Union address was not merely misleading. It was a sustained performance of falsehood so relentless that it revealed something far more troubling than dishonesty.
Donald Trump did not lie because he misspoke. He lied because telling the truth would expose the emptiness of his record, the fragility of his claims, and the hollowness of his vision.
This was not a speech grounded in reality. It was a speech designed to overwrite reality.
Over nearly two hours, Americans were subjected to an avalanche of statements that simply do not hold up. The economy was portrayed as booming beyond precedent while millions continue to struggle with housing, healthcare, and basic costs. Investment numbers were inflated to fantastical levels. Tax cuts were described as historic when history plainly disagrees. Tariffs were again described as being paid by foreign countries, a claim that has never been true and never will be.
On healthcare, Trump took credit for lowering prescription drug prices that were achieved under a different administration. On the deficit, he promised overnight balance through fraud elimination, a mathematical impossibility. On Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, he offered reassurances while advancing policies that directly undermine them.
And once again, he returned to the lie that refuses to die: that American elections are riddled with cheating. Years later, still no evidence. Still no proof. Still no truth.
The Pattern, Not the Claims
Any one of these lies would be concerning. Taken together, they form a pattern that should alarm every American, regardless of party.
Trump’s problem is not exaggeration. It is compulsion.
He lies even when the lie is unnecessary. He lies even when the truth is easily verifiable. He lies even when he knows the speech will be fact-checked line by line.
Why?
Because the truth does not flatter him.
A president confident in real accomplishments does not need to invent them. A leader with a coherent governing vision does not need to distort basic facts. A movement grounded in reality does not require constant deception to survive.
Last night’s speech was not an argument for Trump’s presidency. It was an admission of its weakness.
Why This Matters
State of the Union addresses are meant to anchor the country in shared facts, shared challenges, and shared purpose. When a president uses that platform to flood the public sphere with falsehoods, the damage goes far beyond politics.
Democracy depends on a common understanding of reality. When reality itself becomes partisan, accountability collapses. Institutions weaken. Corruption thrives. Authoritarianism becomes easier to justify.
Trump understands this. He has said before that repetition matters more than truth. Say it enough times and people will believe it.
That is not leadership. That is manipulation.
How We Fight Back
We do not fight back by yelling louder. We fight back by refusing to surrender reality.
Share verified reporting and independent fact checks widely, especially with people who do not actively seek them out. Talk to family members and coworkers using calm, factual language. Do not let lies pass unchallenged in everyday conversations.
Support journalists, educators, and watchdog organizations who still take truth seriously. Show up to town halls, school board meetings, and local elections. Democracy does not erode all at once. It erodes quietly, locally, and gradually.
Most of all, vote. Authoritarianism feeds on cynicism and exhaustion. Participation is its enemy.
A presidency built on lies cannot sustain itself forever. But it can do real damage while it lasts if we allow deception to become normal.
Do not normalize it.
Do not repeat it.
Do not accept it.
I think 4 hockey players did not go. And never forget the women's hockey team also win gold and turned down the invitation.
Shame on the men’s hockey players. Shameful!