Congressman August Pfluger, who represents Texas’ 11th district in the U.S. Congress, spoke with Craig Anderson on KWEL to discuss his views following President Trump’s recent State of the Union address.
Pfluger, who has served in Congress since 2021 after succeeding Mike Conaway, shared his impressions of the event and highlighted what he considered key moments from the speech. Reflecting on the tone and substance of the address, Pfluger said:
“Words can’t describe, especially how that speech ended up last night, the feeling in the room…. and let’s just kind of remember the environment that he took over in January of 2025 with a wide-open border, tens of millions of illegal aliens who had poured in here, a fentanyl crisis, soaring inflation, an economy that was wrecked, a military that had been demoralized and degraded. I mean, the list goes on and on. So, you know, he kind of walked through that. It was much less of a rally, and I would say, I’ve heard Donald Trump speak so many times, and this speech was different. The feeling was different when he talked about the things that he has done, the things that Congress has done, like the One Big, Beautiful Bill, and the amount of money that’s going to come back into people’s pockets this tax season. Reminding us of the facts of closing down the border and really working hard to get the economy back on track. 53 record days on the Dow since he’s taken office. I mean, it’s really amazing to just look back at the record now.”
Pfluger also described President Trump’s recognition of veterans during his address:
“Here’s what I want to say about the end of the speech…when he brought out the veterans, and I’ll specifically say when he brought out the army helicopter Chief Warrant Officer that flew the mission into Venezuela, that was shot multiple times through the leg and still landed that helicopter, that Chinook helicopter, in the compound where we were able to apprehend Maduro, Nicholas Maduro. When he talked about him, he also talked about his wife, and they were standing in the opposite corner from the First Lady. So we kind of looked around, and we thought ‘Where is he?’ And then,the President didn’t say anything. He just let us figure it out. We looked over in back left corner,and there is this soldier who is out of textbook what it looks like to be a soldier with perfect posture standing up.And he talks about those accomplishments,and then he said,we have a surprise for you.We’re going to give you nation’s highest award which is Congressional Medal of Honor which was huge surprise to all us,and there wasn’t dry eye in Capitol.There was not dry eye in room see how much cares about our veterans about our country.The Democrats were on their feet clapping with smiles on their face…I thought rallied country together highlighted after 250 years,we are stronger than ever.”
On Trump’s leadership direction for America,Pfluger stated:
“He ended on such a positive note that I think people see that.You know he’s leader.He’s moving our country right direction.You may not like way talks or tweets or does things like but he’s moving country right direction.”
Pfluger criticized some Democrats for boycotting State Union:
“We know there’s lack respect for institutions.They’ve tried destroy every institution we’ve had for years,and we saw display last night,it disappointing.I mean,I sat through President Biden’s State Union.They were terrible.You know,we all remember those days,but I sat through because I respect institution our government.I respect fact we have three-part government those coequal branches,no matter who’s office I’m going show respect from great district represent.”
Discussing conversations with national leaders,Pfluger added:
“I had chance talk Secretary State Marco Rubio Secretary War Pete Hegseth few others.And you know first off told Secretary Hegseth thank you recognizing veterans did really go above beyond make big deal.And then told Secretary Rubio thank you work doing around world reset way interact other countries respect level have.I just think doing great job.And it great have chance talk them plus few senators who were there.I able talk Chairman Joint Chiefs General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine.So it great opportunity see bunch people.And by way General Caine has been district.He visited Goodfellow Air Force Base.I invited him do so Chief Staff Air Force General Wilsbach going visit here just couple weeks.”
He commented further on Democratic Party policies:
“I mean there’s no message anything.I mean their policy really state chaos because let radical side party take over.Whether foreign policy,whether health care,whether economy,military or men playing women’s sports.They’re very confused.Y’all know this.I work hard represent great district West Texas Permian Basin oil gas production agriculture.There are Democrats out there joined us.Every bill passed last year bipartisan but those Democrats’ voices have been drowned out by radicalism.They have been drowned out by far left until they police up clean up will have no message.It will not resonate America.”
Addressing voter ID laws,Pfluger said:
“You should have heard gallery last night when talked SAVE America Act.I mean how crazy is it Democratic National Convention requires present ID get into their convention,yet can’t even stand agree fact have prove citizen when register,you have show your ID when go vote?I mean this just insane.Thankfully Texas has very good election integrity laws.We’re going keep pressing forward.This right thing do 80+ percent our country believes it.”
On future prospects for America,Pfluger concluded:
“I’m standing right outside Capitol.I’m looking Supreme Court right now.What honor be amongst these institutions.But these institutions wanted us as self-governing people make decisions preserve integrity these institutions,preserve integrity system.This moment where we do have do all again…There’s more be done more work accomplish I’m very confident we’re going do that.And I think next State Union you’re going hear even more successes even more triumphs getting country back track having pride.We should all really take last night President highlighted at 250th year our country we are stronger than ever.We do go through challenges.There have been bumps hurdles but we’re going overcome those.And I think there’s going time very soon where our country is going come back together where political divisiveness is going drop we’re going come back together as America.”
August Pfluger previously won election against Jon Mark Hogg in 2020 by nearly 80% to 18%. Born in Houston in 1978,Pfluger currently lives in San Angelo.