Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger used her Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Feb. 24 to accuse the president of “lying,” raising costs on American families, and undermining public safety.
Speaking from Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, Spanberger framed her remarks around three repeated questions: “Is the President working to make life more affordable for you and your family? Is the President working to keep Americans safe? Is the President working for you?” She answered each question herself: “We all know the answer is no.”
Spanberger claimed Trump’s trade policies have forced American families to pay more than $1,700 each in tariff costs and described new tariffs as “another massive tax hike.” Trump, on the other hand, has defended tariffs as a tool to protect American manufacturing and strengthen trade negotiations, arguing they incentivize domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries.
Turning to healthcare and domestic policy, Spanberger criticized Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill, saying it is “threatening rural hospitals, stripping health care for millions of Americans and driving up costs in energy and housing.”
She did not cite specific closures or cost figures during her remarks. (RELATED: Boeing Retreats From Virginia, Heads Back to St. Louis)
On immigration enforcement, Spanberger accused federal agents of detaining individuals without warrants, saying authorities have “ripped nursing mothers away from their babies” and “killed American citizens in our streets.” She further described those actions as agents operating “with their faces masked from accountability.”
Spanberger also accused Trump of “lying” and alleged “the scale of the corruption is unprecedented,” referencing “crypto scams,” “cozying up to foreign princes,” and “the cover up of the Epstein files,” though she did not cite specific evidence during her remarks.
The address served as a national platform for Spanberger, who highlighted her 15-point gubernatorial victory and recent Democratic gains in state legislatures as evidence of voter momentum heading into November. (RELATED: NYC Will Pay Residents to Shovel — But Only With Proper ID)
Notably, Spanberger has made similar arguments in recent days. In a statement released by her office following President Trump’s announcement of a new 10 percent global tariff, she said the administration’s trade policies are “causing financial strain for Virginians across the Commonwealth.”
“The President should be focused on delivering real relief for families, farmers, and business owners—not unleashing another trade war,” Spanberger said in the statement.While Spanberger ultimately framed her address around affordability, conservative commentator Andrew Klavan offered a different takeaway during a live YouTube broadcast: “I’m really glad that the Virginia governor is delivering the response because that’s 25 minutes in which she won’t be raising taxes.”