Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivered a sharp Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union on Tuesday night, accusing him of driving up costs for families, weakening public safety and engaging in “unprecedented” corruption. Speaking from the historic House of Burgesses in Williamsburg, she framed her remarks around three questions: whether the president is making life more affordable, keeping Americans safe, and working for the American people.
Spanberger said rising housing, health care, energy and child care costs remain the dominant concern she hears from Virginians. She blamed what she called Trump’s “reckless trade policies,” saying families have paid more than $1,700 each in tariff costs since he returned to office. Although she noted the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs days ago, she argued the financial damage has already been done and warned that new tariffs are being planned.
She also criticized a Republican-backed measure she referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” saying rural health clinics in Virginia are closing and that the law threatens hospitals, cuts food programs and increases energy and housing costs.
Drawing on her background as a former federal law enforcement officer and CIA officer, Spanberger accused the administration of deploying poorly trained federal agents who detain people without warrants and operate “masked from accountability.” She said time spent targeting families and communities diverts attention from investigating violent crime and fraud.
On foreign policy, she argued the president is ceding economic and technological ground to China, aligning himself with a “Russian dictator,” and escalating tensions with Iran. She also cited mass firings and controversial appointments as weakening American leadership.
Spanberger alleged corruption tied to the president’s personal and political network, pointing to what she described as an Epstein files cover-up and crypto-related controversies.
Spanberger concluded with an appeal to voters to vote against the “chaos” at the ballot box, reminding them that the country was about to celebrate its 250th anniversary and that citizens could hold politicians accountable.
She was a CIA case officer from 2006 to 2014. She was elected to three terms in the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025. She was elected governor of Virginia in November 2025 and took office on January 17, 2026.
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