Trump’s State of the Union Address Will Be Full of Lies and Promises to Arkansans He Won’t Keep

During Trump's first year in office, costs and unemployment rates have risen for Arkansas families, and health care has become even more expensive

LITTLE ROCK- Tonight, Donald Trump will give his State of the Union address. However he tries to spin his failed economy, Arkansans won't be fooled - they know Trump will make promises he can't and won't keep, as he tries to distract from just how disastrous his first year in office has been for Arkansans.

Trump has spent the past 13 months enriching himself and his circle of billionaire elites, while his failed economic agenda skyrockets costs for working families and destroys good-paying jobs in Arkansas. To make matters worse, Trump and Republicans' Big Ugly Bill kicked 140,000 Arkansans off their health care coverage (KFF) and took food off the table of 130,000 Arkansans (Urban Institute). Meanwhile, our unemployment rate is up 0.5% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), and Trump Tariff's increase costs for Arkansans by more than $1,300 per household.

By nearly every metric, Trump's first year has been a complete disaster for Arkansas, and Arkansans have never been worse off. Arkansans will have the opportunity to hold Trump and his Republican enablers accountable in November.

Ahead of Donald Trump's State of the Union Address, Arkansas Democratic Party Chair Colonel (Ret.) Marcus Jones released the following statement:

"Tonight, President Trump will desperately try to pull the wool over Arkansans' eyes and paper over a year's worth of betrayal and disastrous policies, but Arkansans won't fall for it. Trump promised to lower costs on 'Day One,' but prices are skyrocketing. He promised to usher in an economic 'golden age' for Arkansans, but our job market is dismal, jobs are drying up, and Arkansas's economy continues to suffer. Instead of a "golden age' - Americans face the weakest economic growth in years and companies are announcing layoffs every day. As Trump makes more promises he knows he can't keep and pushes for an agenda that is raising costs for working families, Democrats will be fighting to lower Arkansans' costs, create jobs, and protect health care."

Trump's Record for Arkansas by the numbers:

140,000 Arkansans kicked off their health care coverage as a result of Trump and Republicans' Big Ugly Bill. 143,734 Arkansas marketplace enrollees are at risk of losing enhanced ACA tax credits - and if they expire, premiums will spike 270% costing families an average of $1,199 more per year. (KFF)

130,000 Arkansas families will lose some or all of their food assistance due to Trump's SNAP cuts - taking food off the table for the families who need it most. (Urban Institute, 7/2/25)

Arkansas's unemployment rate has risen 0.5% since Trump took office, as good-paying jobs dry up and the economy stalls. Arkansas is one of 26 states (plus DC) where unemployment has increased under Trump. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1/7/26)

Arkansas families are losing $1,320 per household annually from Trump and Republicans' Big Ugly Bill and reckless tariffs - on top of the $259 already lost to Trump-era inflation in just the first eight months of his presidency. (Joint Economic Committee Democrats, 11/13/25 · Yale Budget Lab · Census Bureau)

View these numbers on our Expectation vs. Reality page on our website here.