President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in U.S. history, but his sweeping claims regarding job creation, gas prices, and global peacemaking have drawn intense scrutiny and fact-checking from global observers.

Stretching an unprecedented one hour and 41 minutes, Trump used his Tuesday night address to paint a picture of unrivaled domestic prosperity and international dominance during the first year of his second term. However, beneath the bravado, many of his core assertions were found to be heavily inflated, misleading, or entirely unsubstantiated.

For African economies, particularly Kenya, tracking the reality behind Washington's rhetoric is vital. U.S. domestic economic policies, tariffs, and foreign policy directly dictate the strength of the dollar against the Kenyan Shilling (KES) and influence crucial trade agreements like AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act).

The Employment Exaggeration

Trump repeatedly touted his economic prowess, declaring the U.S. the "hottest country anywhere in the world" and boldly claiming, "we have more jobs, more people working today than ever before in the history of our country."

However, empirical data contradicts this triumphant narrative. Job gains under the current administration actually slowed significantly in 2025. According to revised data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added a mere 181,000 jobs in 2025. This figure is starkly lower than the 1.5 million to 2.5 million typical under non-pandemic years during his first term and the preceding Biden administration.

Furthermore, Trump claimed to have secured $18 trillion (approx. KES 2.4 quadrillion) in global investments. Fact-checkers revealed the White House was counting vague, non-binding pledges rather than actual finalized investments, which stand closer to $9.7 trillion.

Gas Prices and the Environmental Rollback

On the domestic front, the President boasted of low gas prices, stating they were "now below $2.30 a gallon in most states and in some places, $1.99 a gallon." While prices have seen regional dips, the broader picture is far more complex.

A major environmental rollback enacted just two weeks prior—the repeal of the endangerment finding, which served as the legal bedrock for greenhouse gas regulations—is projected by the administration's own internal data to ultimately push gas prices higher in the long term.

• Claim: Unprecedented job growth. Reality: Slowest job growth in non-pandemic years (181,000 jobs).
• Claim: $18 Trillion in investments. Reality: Inflated by counting vague pledges.
• Claim: Gas prices universally plunging. Reality: Deregulation policies threaten future hikes.

The Illusion of Global Peace

Perhaps the most audacious claim was Trump's assertion that he had ended eight wars in his first 10 months. This is a profound exaggeration. The U.S. has been a party to six peace agreements, several of which do not credit Trump's administration, and some of the conflicts cited were never classified as wars.

Notably, despite his claims of bringing peace to the Middle East, the conflict in Gaza rages on. While he was involved in brokering a temporary ceasefire late last year, airstrikes and civilian casualties have continued unabated since the truce collapsed.

As the dust settles on the marathon speech, the global community, including East Africa, must brace for the reality of Trump's new 10% global tariff. While the rhetoric inside the Capitol was one of boundless success, the tangible economic impacts abroad may prove far more turbulent.