Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger used her official Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union to accuse him of making life less affordable — an interesting message coming from a politician whose own party in Richmond is busy rolling out fresh taxes like it’s a clearance sale at the Department of Revenue.
Speaking from Colonial Williamsburg, Spanberger wrapped herself in revolutionary imagery, reminding viewers that early Virginians once gathered to govern themselves. She then pivoted to blaming Trump for allegedly failing working families, asking whether the president is making life more affordable, keeping Americans safe, and “working for you.”
She claimed her campaign focused on housing, healthcare, energy, and childcare, and accused Trump’s tariff policies of raising costs. According to Spanberger, Republicans are the real villains when it comes to making life more expensive.
Republicans in Virginia, however, point out a small detail: Spanberger supports a Democratic legislature pushing new sales taxes and even a levy on fantasy football operators. Apparently, nothing screams “affordability” quite like taxing people for setting imaginary lineups on their phones.
Still, Spanberger insisted Democrats are the true champions of lower costs.
“But here in Virginia, I am working with our state legislature to lower costs and make the Commonwealth more affordable,” she said, adding that Democrats nationwide are “laser-focused on affordability.” Laser-focused — with tax bills.
At one point, Spanberger appeared to lose her place on the teleprompter, jumbling references to Russia, China, and Iran into a single verbal knot. She accused Trump of ceding economic and technological power abroad, even as her prepared remarks tried to keep China as the main rival. It was a moment that suggested the script and reality weren’t quite on the same page.
She also invoked George Washington, warning about “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men,” and urged Americans to unite for a “common cause.” House Speaker Mike Johnson had just used Washington’s gavel earlier in the night — a nice contrast between honoring the Founder’s legacy and using it as a political prop.
Spanberger closed by saying “We the people” have the power to demand more from their government and keep the Union strong for the next 250 years.
It was a polished speech, full of patriotic language and carefully aimed jabs at Trump. But the reality remains: while she talks about affordability, her party in Virginia is pushing new taxes that will hit everyday people. President Trump, meanwhile, stood before Congress touting tax relief and lower costs for workers.
In the end, voters can judge for themselves who is actually making life more affordable — the president cutting taxes, or the politicians calling new ones “solutions.” And that’s a choice Americans seem more than ready to make.
