Trump Reminds Americans That All Policy Is Family Policy

President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address hit several important policy areas, but even though there was no specific mention of the country’s declining marriage rates and “birth dearth,” the concerns of families were a major theme.

One of the key concerns for families today is the future of American homeownership.

The cost and supply of housing is an issue that comes up often among policymakers and academics who study the decline in family formation.

The president told the story of a Houston mom of two who has put in 20 offers on homes, only to be outbid by institutional investors. Trump pointed to an executive order he signed in January banning Wall Street investment firms from buying homes that could otherwise be purchased by families.

Some commentators see this move as unhelpful government intrusion in the housing market, but the average American family cares more about being able to buy a home in a safe neighborhood than strict adherence to laissez-faire economics.

Another issue that concerns parents is the financial prosperity of their children.

The president touted his Trump Accounts as a way to help today’s children “jumpstart the American Dream” when they become adults. Beginning on July 4, the tax-deferred investment accounts will be seeded with a $1,000 initial deposit for every American child born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. Parents don’t have to touch the accounts after that, but as the president said, even “modest additional contributions” could help them grow to over $100,000 or more by the time they turn 18.

While every parent is concerned about securing a stable financial future for their child, Trump’s acknowledgement of Sage Blair and her mother, Michele, in the gallery brought attention to another challenge facing families.

Sage was 14 when she began identifying as a boy. Her school “affirmed” her decision and treated her as a boy without telling her mother. The actions of these adults set off a chain reaction that led Sage to be trafficked, abused, and separated from her mother.

The president’s willingness to highlight Sage’s story brought needed attention to the growing trend of state government’s punishing parents for not affirming children who identify as the opposite sex.

Some legislators have tried to fight back. Virginia lawmakers introduced HB 2432, “Sage’s Law,” in 2023, requiring schools to inform parents if their child wanted to identify as the opposite sex.

The bill passed the Virginia House of Delegates, but it failed in the state Senate.

The failure of elected officials to protect the vulnerable and stand up for families is an all-too-common reality in today’s political landscape. It’s one reason Democrats refused to stand when Trump asked every lawmaker who prioritizes the needs of American citizens over illegal aliens to rise to their feet.

Misplaced priorities in public safety are why so many families have had to bear the brunt of violent crime—perpetrated either by repeat offenders or immigrants who are in the country illegally. One example was the killing of Iryna Zarutska on a North Carolina train in 2025. Her attacker, Decarlos Brown Jr., had a long criminal history that included 14 previous arrests. No parent should have to bury a child because our justice system fails to do its job, but too many families across the country have had to do just that.

There is a lot of work being done on the political right to strengthen America’s families, much of it focused on attempts to boost declining marriage and birth rates.

But the reality is that family policy encompasses more than wedding bells and baby showers. It includes young couples who want to have children but are afraid they won’t be able to afford a home in a safe neighborhood.

It also extends to schools, where adults should be focused on the building blocks of a solid education, not pushing radical ideas about gender in the classroom.

Trump’s State of the Union address was a good reminder that all policy is family policy.

The post Trump Reminds Americans That All Policy Is Family Policy appeared first on The Daily Signal.