Vermont and New York’s federal delegation react to President Trump’s State of the Union Address
“This administration is trying to break us, but they can’t,” said Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint.
Updated: 6:10 PM EST Feb 25, 2026
As President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union Address of his second term on Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers like Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint shared their own message on the steps of the Washington D.C. National Mall.”We have to stand up for, not just our individual rights, but for the rights of everyone across the country,” Balint said during the event known as the People’s State of the Union. During his speech, the president called this time period “the golden age of America,” touting his achievements over the last year. “After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before,” Trump said. “A turnaround for the ages. It is indeed a turnaround for the ages.”However, Balint is among leaders across Vermont and New York who’ve expressed a very different sentiment. “I know many people out here are feeling angry, and you’re feeling anxious and frustrated. I get it. This administration is trying to break us, but they can’t,” she said. During a press conference Wednesday, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand echoed that message while calling on the president to end what she called “catastrophic tariffs.””He’s now pledged to increase it to 15 percent. It’s unacceptable, unaffordable and hurting our economy,” Gillibrand said. “The American people deserve much better. The chaos has to stop. President Trump must end his catastrophic tariffs once and for all.”Gillibrand highlighted how those tariffs are already hitting northern border communities, from farmers and manufacturers to businesses that rely on Canadian tourism. “It’s been a huge hit to their bottom line,” she said. “They don’t have full hotel rooms, they don’t have full restaurants, they’ve lost a lot of money, and, for some, they’re wondering if they’re going to be able to survive the next season.”Days after the Supreme Court ruled Trump’s previously imposed tariffs are illegal, Gillibrand and Vermont Sen. Peter Welch are among lawmakers demanding Trump refund the American people. In a statement made with fellow Democratic lawmakers, Welch said, “Roughly 95% of tariff costs have been passed down to American families and small businesses in the form of higher prices, estimated to have cost families an average of $1,700 each.”Yet, not all lawmakers are critical of the president’s address to the nation. New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said, “It was an honor to attend President Trump’s State of the Union, where he highlighted the significant results that he has worked with Congress to deliver to the American people including the largest tax cut in history, a secure border, and a peace through strength national security agenda that supports our men and women in uniform.”
WASHINGTON —
As President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union Address of his second term on Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers like Vermont Congresswoman Becca Balint shared their own message on the steps of the Washington D.C. National Mall.
“We have to stand up for, not just our individual rights, but for the rights of everyone across the country,” Balint said during the event known as the People’s State of the Union.
During his speech, the president called this time period “the golden age of America,” touting his achievements over the last year.
“After just one year, I can say with dignity and pride we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before,” Trump said. “A turnaround for the ages. It is indeed a turnaround for the ages.”
However, Balint is among leaders across Vermont and New York who’ve expressed a very different sentiment.
“I know many people out here are feeling angry, and you’re feeling anxious and frustrated. I get it. This administration is trying to break us, but they can’t,” she said.
During a press conference Wednesday, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand echoed that message while calling on the president to end what she called “catastrophic tariffs.”
“He’s now pledged to increase it to 15 percent. It’s unacceptable, unaffordable and hurting our economy,” Gillibrand said. “The American people deserve much better. The chaos has to stop. President Trump must end his catastrophic tariffs once and for all.”
Gillibrand highlighted how those tariffs are already hitting northern border communities, from farmers and manufacturers to businesses that rely on Canadian tourism.
“It’s been a huge hit to their bottom line,” she said. “They don’t have full hotel rooms, they don’t have full restaurants, they’ve lost a lot of money, and, for some, they’re wondering if they’re going to be able to survive the next season.”
Days after the Supreme Court ruled Trump’s previously imposed tariffs are illegal, Gillibrand and Vermont Sen. Peter Welch are among lawmakers demanding Trump refund the American people. In a statement made with fellow Democratic lawmakers, Welch said, “Roughly 95% of tariff costs have been passed down to American families and small businesses in the form of higher prices, estimated to have cost families an average of $1,700 each.”
Yet, not all lawmakers are critical of the president’s address to the nation.
New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik said, “It was an honor to attend President Trump’s State of the Union, where he highlighted the significant results that he has worked with Congress to deliver to the American people including the largest tax cut in history, a secure border, and a peace through strength national security agenda that supports our men and women in uniform.”