Featured Image Credit: Anadolu / Contributor via Getty
We imagine there were some sore butts in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address, with the Commander-in-Chief having Congress and millions around the world hanging on his every word for an achingly long one hour and 47 minutes.
Then again, in a year that's had so much going on, we're not surprised Donald Trump overshot his previous record of one hour and 39 minutes.
Following a precedent set by Ronald Reagan in 1981, speeches delivered in the first year of a presidential administration aren't considered official State of the Union addresses. This means Trump has still overtaken Bill Clinton's 2000 record, which lasted one hour and 28 minutes.
Away from coming face-to-face with the members of the Supreme Court who shot down the bulk of his trade tariffs, the POTUS again sent a warning to Iran over its nuclear situation, made a mention of his 'third term', and had Texas' Al Greene ejected when the Democrat made a protest against Trump's recent AI drama with the Obamas.
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In a typically patriotic event that saw the country's men's hockey team cheered to chants of U-S-A following its recent Winter Olympics win, Trump also honored two National Guard members, gave the Medal of Honor to a helicopter pilot, and again referenced the late Charlie Kirk as well as his wife, Erika Kirk.
Mentioning the political commentator following his September 10 assassination, President Trump told the crowd: "I'm very proud to say that during my time in office, both the first four years and in particular this last year, there has been a tremendous renewal in religion, faith, Christianity, and belief in God...And a big part of that had to do with my great friend Charlie Kirk.
"So last year, Charlie was violently murdered by an assassin and martyred for his beliefs. His wonderful wife Erika is with us tonight."
The timing of Trump's mention comes alongside the controversial Candace Owens releasing her Bride of Charlie YouTube series that accused Erika Kirk of being involved in her husband's murder.
Kirk's widow was in the audience, with Erika mouthing three words toward the camera. During a standing ovation, Kirk appeared to mouth: "I miss you."
Continuing his praise of the Kirk family, Trump added: "Youâve been through a lot."
In a bold statement, he said that in Kirk's memory, the people of the USA "must all come together to reaffirm that we are one nation under God" and told everyone to "reject political violence of any kind."
Responding to Kirk's "I miss you," opinions were split.
Feeling for her, one person wrote: "Oh Erika, God bless you and your family!"
Another added: "Seeing Erika Kirk mouth 'I miss you' is heartbreaking. đ."
Others were more critical, with a third saying: "Sheâs such a fraud. Ever since the first speech after his murder, she makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. So forced and fake."
Someone else concluded: "'I miss you' chat idk if I read her lips right but how you miss him so much yet you remove your wedding photo đ."
