ON CAPITOL HILL, RACHEL HIRSCHHEIMER WGAL NEWS 8, LAWMAKERS IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY, INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN LLOYD SMUCKER, REACTED TO THE SPEECH. THE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTS ALL OF LANCASTER COUNTY AND PART OF YORK COUNTY. WE TALKED ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DID IN THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL WITH NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, GIVING SENIORS ON SOCIAL SECURITY, TAX BREAK, AND TALKED ABOUT HOW HOW ALL CITIZENS WILL FEEL THE IMPACT OF THAT WHEN THEY FILE THEIR TAXES THIS YEAR. REPRESENTATIVE SMUCKER ALSO MENTIONED THE PRESIDENT’S IMMIGRATION POLICY AS A SUCCESS. CONGRESSMAN SCOTT PERRY, WHO REPRESENTS ALL OF DAUPHIN COUNTY AND PARTS OF YORK COUNTY AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES, ALSO HAD A POSITIVE REACTION TO THE SPEECH. THE REPUBLICAN SAYS THE PRESIDENT SHOWED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO’S FIGHTING FOR THEM. I THINK THE PRESIDENT OUTLINED MANY THINGS THAT THE PRESS OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO HAS NEGLECTED TO REALLY TALK ABOUT, AND REALLY CONNECTED THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER. THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT, TO PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, PEOPLE THAT LIVE AND HAVE JOBS AND BUSINESSES. HE MADE THAT CONNECTION. AND PERRY’S GUEST, WHO YOU SAW STANDING NEXT TO HIM, EL DOMINGO SANTANA, IS A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. SANTANA SAYS THE PRESIDENT’S ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL HELPED HIS BUSINESS AND HIS FAMILY. PENNSYLVANIA U.S. SENATOR DAVE MCCORMICK SAYS THE PRESIDENT IS DELIVERING ON HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. HE SAYS PENNSYLVANIA HAS SECURED $92 BILLION IN NEW INVESTMENTS WITH THE PRESIDENT’S SUPPORT. NEWS EIGHT REACHED OUT TO SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN FOR COMMENT, BUT HE DECLINED. REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN JOHN JOYCE, WHO REPRESENTS ADAMS, FRANKLIN, JUNIATA, MIFFLIN AND PERRY COUNTY, SAYS THE STATE OF THE UNION WAS ABOUT HIGHLIGHTING REAL RESULTS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HE SAYS THE PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTED POLICIES CENTERED ON ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SECURING THE BORDER, AND REPRESENTATIVE DAN MEUSER, WHOSE DISTRICT INCLUDES LEBANON COUNTY, MENTIONED TAX CUTS,
Pennsylvania lawmakers react to President Trump’s State of the Union address
Updated: 12:54 PM EST Feb 25, 2026
Pennsylvania lawmakers are reacting after President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term. It was the longest State of the Union address in history, clocking in at 1 hour and 41 minutes. Rep. Lloyd Smucker Congressman Lloyd Smucker, who represents all of Lancaster County and part of York County, reacted to the State of the Union address, saying: “He talked about the work that we did in the big beautiful bill with no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, it’s giving seniors on Social Security a tax break, and talked about how all citizens will feel the impact of that when they file their taxes this year,” Smucker said. Smucker also mentioned the president’s immigration policy as a success.Rep. Scott Perry Congressman Scott Perry, representing all of Dauphin County and parts of York and Cumberland counties, also had a positive reaction to the speech, saying the president showed the American people who’s fighting for them. “I think the president outlined many things that the president over the last year or so has neglected to really talk about, and really connected those things that we have done together, the Congress and the president to people in the United States, people that live and have jobs and businesses, he made that connection,” Perry said. Perry’s guest, Edelmiro Santana, a business owner in the Susquehanna Valley, expressed that the president’s “one big beautiful bill” benefited his business and family. Sen. Dave McCormickSen. Dave McCormick reacted to the State of the Union address on X, stating that the president is delivering on his campaign promises, noting that Pennsylvania has secured $92 billion in new investments with the president’s support. “The U.S. Steel–Nippon deal is strengthening American steel manufacturing and protecting good-paying jobs. And the Working Families Tax Cuts Act is now law, with benefits already being felt by hardworking families across our Commonwealth and the nation.” News 8 reached out to Sen. John Fetterman for comment, but he declined.Rep. John JoyceCongressman John Joyce, representing Adams, Franklin, Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry counties, responded to the State of the Union address with a statement, saying: “This State of the Union was about results — real, measurable results — and about keeping the promises made to the American people,” said Joyce. “The President outlined a clear vision focused on strengthening our economy, securing our borders, lowering costs for families, restoring American leadership, and expanding opportunity for the next generation. Over the past year, we have seen meaningful steps to support American workers, families, and small businesses. Policies centered on economic growth, tax relief, national security, and energy independence are helping to forge a successful future for our nation.” Rep. Dan MeuserRep. Dan Meuser, whose district includes Lebanon County, reacted to the State of the Union address with a statement, mentioning tax cuts, falling crime rates, and lower prescription drug prices as wins for the American people. “The Working Families Tax Cuts, signed last Independence Day, delivered relief from financial burdens inflicted on the American people by the previous administration. President Trump and House Republicans are advancing a housing agenda to increase supply and expand access to homeownership,” said Meuser. “Crime is down. Peace through strength has been restored. Prescription drug prices are falling thanks to the President’s policies.”
Pennsylvania lawmakers are reacting after President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address of his second term.
It was the longest State of the Union address in history, clocking in at 1 hour and 41 minutes.
Rep. Lloyd Smucker
Congressman Lloyd Smucker, who represents all of Lancaster County and part of York County, reacted to the State of the Union address, saying:
“He talked about the work that we did in the big beautiful bill with no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, it’s giving seniors on Social Security a tax break, and talked about how all citizens will feel the impact of that when they file their taxes this year,” Smucker said.
Smucker also mentioned the president’s immigration policy as a success.
Rep. Scott Perry
Congressman Scott Perry, representing all of Dauphin County and parts of York and Cumberland counties, also had a positive reaction to the speech, saying the president showed the American people who’s fighting for them.
“I think the president outlined many things that the president over the last year or so has neglected to really talk about, and really connected those things that we have done together, the Congress and the president to people in the United States, people that live and have jobs and businesses, he made that connection,” Perry said.
Perry’s guest, Edelmiro Santana, a business owner in the Susquehanna Valley, expressed that the president’s “one big beautiful bill” benefited his business and family.
Sen. Dave McCormick
Sen. Dave McCormick reacted to the State of the Union address on X, stating that the president is delivering on his campaign promises, noting that Pennsylvania has secured $92 billion in new investments with the president’s support.
“The U.S. Steel–Nippon deal is strengthening American steel manufacturing and protecting good-paying jobs. And the Working Families Tax Cuts Act is now law, with benefits already being felt by hardworking families across our Commonwealth and the nation.”
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
.@POTUS is delivering on the promises he made: peace through strength on the world stage, secure borders, safer communities, historic deregulation and tax relief, falling inflation, and greater economic opportunity.
Pennsylvania is already seeing the results. With President…
— Senator Dave McCormick (@SenMcCormickPA) February 25, 2026
News 8 reached out to Sen. John Fetterman for comment, but he declined.
Rep. John Joyce
Congressman John Joyce, representing Adams, Franklin, Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry counties, responded to the State of the Union address with a statement, saying:
“This State of the Union was about results — real, measurable results — and about keeping the promises made to the American people,” said Joyce. “The President outlined a clear vision focused on strengthening our economy, securing our borders, lowering costs for families, restoring American leadership, and expanding opportunity for the next generation. Over the past year, we have seen meaningful steps to support American workers, families, and small businesses. Policies centered on economic growth, tax relief, national security, and energy independence are helping to forge a successful future for our nation.”
Rep. Dan Meuser
Rep. Dan Meuser, whose district includes Lebanon County, reacted to the State of the Union address with a statement, mentioning tax cuts, falling crime rates, and lower prescription drug prices as wins for the American people.
“The Working Families Tax Cuts, signed last Independence Day, delivered relief from financial burdens inflicted on the American people by the previous administration. President Trump and House Republicans are advancing a housing agenda to increase supply and expand access to homeownership,” said Meuser. “Crime is down. Peace through strength has been restored. Prescription drug prices are falling thanks to the President’s policies.”