Vice President JD Vance didn’t mince words when discussing President Donald Trump’s historic speech before a joint session of Congress last week. Caught on a hot mic in a candid moment with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Vance acknowledged Trump’s address would be compelling but seemed surprised by its sheer length.
Vance’s Off-the-Cuff Remark Before Trump’s Speech
Just before Trump took the stage, Vance was overheard commenting on what would soon become the longest presidential address to Congress in history.
“By the way, I think the speech is going to be great,” Vance told Johnson. “But I don’t know how you do this for 90 minutes.”
Speaker Johnson, not missing an opportunity to criticize the previous administration, fired back with a jab at President Biden’s past addresses.
“The hardest thing was doing it during Biden when the speech was a stupid campaign speech,” Johnson joked.
Video footage captured the exchange before Johnson discreetly lowered the microphone, appearing to realize it was still live.
Trump’s Speech Breaks Records
The former president’s address stretched for an astonishing one hour and 40 minutes, breaking a long-standing record previously held by Bill Clinton, whose longest State of the Union speech lasted one hour and 28 minutes.
According to the American Presidency Project, Trump now holds the title for the longest speech delivered by a sitting president before Congress.
Millions Tuned In—But Viewership Was Lower Than Trump’s First Term
Despite the historic nature of the address, audience numbers were lower than any of Trump’s four previous addresses during his first administration. An estimated 36.6 million viewers watched the speech, marking a dip from past years.
However, CBS News reported that a strong majority of those who tuned in approved of the president’s remarks. While viewership skewed heavily Republican—something that is typical for presidential speeches—those watching responded positively to Trump’s performance.
How Did Americans React?
A CBS News/YouGov poll conducted immediately after the speech revealed overwhelmingly favorable reactions from viewers:
76 percent approved of Trump’s address
23 percent disapproved
Many labeled the speech as “presidential,” “inspiring,” and more “unifying” than “divisive”
A significant number of viewers even called the address “entertaining”
What’s Next?
As Trump continues to make his case for a return to the White House, his ability to command the stage remains as strong as ever. His record-breaking speech set the tone for the months ahead, and with Vice President Vance’s hot-mic moment making headlines, the behind-the-scenes conversations in Washington are proving just as interesting as what’s said at the podium.
