State of the Union live updates: Trump boasts about the economy in campaign-style speech

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First lady Melania Trump awarded the conservative radio host, who recently revealed he had advanced lung cancer, the Presidential Medal of Freedom right in the middle of Trump’s speech. Limbaugh, known for his caustic rants against liberals and “feminazis,” was nonetheless moved to tears as the president and the first lady honored him. “Thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country,” Trump said.

The president pledges “we will always protect your Medicare and your Social Security,” weeks after he told CNBC’s Joe Kernen that his administration would take a look at entitlement reform. His Democratic rivals in the 2020 primary field seized on the remarks at the time to hammer Trump on a big hot-button issue.

Health care sits at the top of voters’ minds in 2020. Trump appeared aware of its importance and his own vulnerability on the issue.

The president said, “I have also made an ironclad pledge to American families: we will always protect people with pre-existing conditions.” Trump has not kept that pledge so far in his presidency. Democrats leveraged Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which could have weakened the law’s key protections for people with pre-existing conditions, as they flipped the House in the 2018 midterms.

The Trump administration has declined to defend Obamacare against litigation that seeks to toss out the law — and its protections for people with pre-existing conditions. The Supreme Court is unlikely to hear the case before the 2020 election.

Also during his speech, Trump targeted Democrats for supporting “Medicare for All,” what he called a “socialist takeover of our health care system.” He claimed “there are those who want to take away your health care, take away your doctor and abolish private insurance entirely.” “We will never let socialism destroy American health care,” he said to cheers from Republicans and even a few Democrats.

Trump misleads on what such a health care system would do. Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of Trump’s leading challengers for the White House in 2020, wants a universal health care system that would cover every American, with benefits like dental, mental health and long-term care, with no deductibles, premiums or copays.

While Sanders says he would tax the wealthy and corporations more to fund the plan, he has not denied that middle-class people may have to pay more in taxes under the system. However, he says they will end up saving money overall because of lower health care costs.

While Trump praises Chinese President Xi Jinping in his State of the Union address, critics are pointing out how some members of his own Cabinet contradict him on how China is viewed, even after the “phase one” trade deal.

In introducing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, Trump takes aim at socialism – which is a theme of his 2020 campaign, as well. He has warned that his Democratic rivals would usher in socialism. None of his Democratic rivals are socialists, while Sen. Bernie Sanders identifies as a democratic socialist. 

The early parts of Trump’s remarks sounded much like a stump speech centered around the economy. He pointed to a range of economic indicators, from the unemployment rate, to wages, to real median household income, consumer confidence and 401k plans.

While many of those marks are good or even great — the U.S. unemployment rate has been near a 50-year low — he at points embellished how strong the economy is. Trump said: “This is a blue-collar boom.”

Trump leads off with searing criticism of the Obama administration.

“The years of economic decay are over,” Trump said. “The days of our country being used, taken advantage of, and even scorned by other nations are long behind us. Gone, too, are the broken promises, jobless recoveries, tired platitudes and constant excuses for the depletion of American wealth, power and prestige.”

These sentences at the top of the speech are a clear sign that Trump intends to use this address to excoriate Democrats and the previous Democratic administration, whose vice president just happens to be running for president against Trump.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is this year’s designated survivor, ie, the Cabinet member who is left out of the chamber while the president gives the State of the Union address. He is at an undisclosed location to protect the presidential line of succession in case there is a mass casualty during the speech.

Trump unleashes a common State of the Union applause line after listing a litany of boasts about the economy and military strength.

“Members of Congress, the president of the United States,” Pelosi declares, prompting Trump’s supporters in the chamber to chant “four more years!” Trump also ignored Pelosi’s attempt at a handshake.

Trump has arrived and he’s shaking hands as he makes his way down to give his speech.

Chief Justice John Roberts just arrived in the House chamber under somewhat unusual circumstances: The chief will continue preside over the president’s impeachment trial in the Senate on Wednesday.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist skipped President Bill Clinton’s State of the Union address in 1999, under similar circumstances.

In addition to Roberts, Trump appointees Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, are also in attendance.

Democratic female House members are wearing white tonight to honor the early 20th century women’s suffrage movement that resulted in the passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh has been spotted in the House chamber at the State of the Union address. Limbaugh announced on his program Monday that he has been diagnosed with “advanced lung cancer.” He said he will take time off his normal broadcast schedule to seek treatment.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver the Democratic Party’s response to Trump’s speech tonight. Here are some excerpts:

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Hill is a former House member from California who resigned last year after “revenge porn” photos surfaced, amid allegations that she had an affair with a subordinate. Hill’s resignation prompted a public debate over whether Hill was a victim or not, and whether House Democrats should have supported her more.

The White House on Tuesday confirmed that Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido will be among the president and first lady’s guests tonight. Guaido’s attendance likely benefits both Trump and his guest. For Trump, Guaido represents a physical representation of the Trump administration’s hard line against Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro, whose government has been heavily sanctioned by Washington. For Guaido, who was prohibited in January from seeking reelection as head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, appearing at the State of the Union as a guest of the president sends a strong signal to allies and foes back home that he and his opposition government still enjoy official U.S. support.

Trump could try to inject energy into his reelection drive and will likely talk up a healthy U.S. economy and recent trade triumphs. At the same time, more of the delayed Democratic caucus results could trickle in from Iowa as voters start to pick who will face him in November.

The president’s address is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET. He will address a joint session of Congress, but several key Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, will boycott the speech.

President Donald Trump will give his third State of the Union address tonight, the night before the Senate will likely vote to acquit him of the two charges he faces in his impeachment trial. Expect to see a victorious Trump touting his administration’s record on the economy and national security, with speech lines tailor-made for the 2020 campaign.

All times above are Eastern time.

CNBC’s Mike Calia contributed to this live blog.