Staff Reports
President Trump has once again proven his dominance on the political stage by utterly obliterating the record for the longest address to a joint session of Congress. Speaking for a staggering hour and 40 minutes, Trump might as well have issued a warning for Congress to stock up on snacks. The American Presidency Project has been keeping tabs on these marathon monologues since Lyndon B. Johnson held court back in 1964, and Trump has now firmly planted his name at the top of the leaderboard.
President Trump’s speech from Tuesday “is now the record holder for the longest speech to a joint session of Congress.”
Trump’s endurance and perseverance is why he’s so great for America.pic.twitter.com/beRjxnu6DO
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 5, 2025
This isn’t the first time Trump has flexed his rhetorical muscles; his previous best was an impressive hour and 22 minutes back in February 2019. It’s clear that when it comes to delivering speeches, he doesn’t just play to win—he plays to crush the competition beneath the weight of his words. The old record for longest State of the Union speech, set by Bill Clinton back in 2000, barely held up against Trump’s tsunami of rhetoric. Clinton’s hour-and-28-minute oration has now been left in the dust, much like his administration.
It’s not just Clinton who has to take a backseat; his own 1995 address—which clocked in at just under an hour and 25 minutes—has also been relegated to the history books. One can’t help but marvel at the stamina it takes to deliver a speech that long, while most politicians struggle to keep their audiences engaged without droning on. Yet, somehow, Trump has managed to command the floor with a mixture of charisma and confidence that keeps people tuned in, regardless of the length.
While some critics might roll their eyes and mutter about “too much Trump,” conservative Americans are likely cheering in their living rooms, smartphones set to record every illuminating verbal flourish. After all, this is a man who knows how to take the reins and lead the conversation, rather than let it scamper off into the ether of insipidness. His speeches often delve into the pulse of the nation, hitting all the right notes that resonate with a significant portion of the American populace.
In a world where verbosity often leads to boredom, Trump remains an enigma, wielding the power of a lengthy address as a weapon of influence. The Democrats may need more than just a few soundbites to counteract this kind of engagement with the electorate. In the end, whether one loves him or hates him, there’s no denying that when it comes to delivering lengthy speeches, Trump has officially set the bar ridiculously high—and that’s a height that others may struggle to reach for years to come.
