Spanberger Delivers Democratic Rebuttal, Criticizes Trump's Policies

Virginia Governor says Trump is enriching himself at Americans' expense

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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In the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger criticized the president's policies, saying he is not working for the American people but rather enriching himself and his allies. Spanberger, a former CIA agent, rejected Trump's claims about the strength of the U.S. economy and accused him of weakening the country's standing on the global stage.

Why it matters

Spanberger's rebuttal provides a counterpoint to Trump's address and highlights the deep partisan divisions in the country. As the first woman elected governor of Virginia, her response carries significant weight and offers a Democratic perspective on the administration's record.

The details

Spanberger spoke for about 15 minutes, without mentioning Trump by name, and accused the president of lying, scapegoating, and distracting from the nation's pressing challenges. She rejected Trump's claims about Americans being wealthier under his administration, citing a report estimating that families have paid over $1,700 in tariff costs since he took office. Spanberger also criticized Trump's aggressive anti-immigration policies and his perceived cozying up to foreign leaders like Vladimir Putin.

  • Spanberger delivered the Democratic response on Tuesday night, following Trump's State of the Union address.

The players

Abigail Spanberger

The first woman elected governor of Virginia, Spanberger is a former CIA agent who delivered the Democratic response to Trump's State of the Union address.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, whose policies and claims were criticized by Spanberger in her rebuttal.

Vladimir Putin

The President of Russia, whom Spanberger accused Trump of cozying up to.

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What they’re saying

“We all know the answer is no.”

— Abigail Spanberger, Governor of Virginia (UPI)

“He tries to divide us. He tries to enrage us, to pit us against one another, neighbor against neighbor. And sometimes he succeeds.”

— Abigail Spanberger, Governor of Virginia (UPI)

“The scale of the corruption is unprecedented. There's the cover-up of the Epstein files, the crypto scams, cozying up to foreign princes for airplanes and billionaires for ballrooms, putting his name and face on buildings all over our nation's capital.”

— Abigail Spanberger, Governor of Virginia (UPI)

What’s next

Spanberger's rebuttal sets the stage for continued partisan debates and political battles in the lead-up to the 2028 presidential election, as the Democratic Party seeks to challenge Trump's policies and vision for the country.

The takeaway

Spanberger's response highlights the deep ideological divide in the country and the ongoing struggle between the Democratic and Republican parties over the direction of the nation. Her criticisms of Trump's policies and leadership style underscore the need for bipartisan cooperation and compromise to address the country's pressing challenges.