US President Donald Trump will deliver the traditional State of the Union address to Congress this Tuesday, at a difficult time in his term, with his popularity falling, anxiety over Iran rising and Americans struggling with the cost of living as the midterm elections in November approach.
The prime-time televised address to Congress, his second in the 13 months since he returned to the White House, offers Trump a chance to persuade voters to keep Republicans in power. But this comes at a time when he faces strong headwinds in domestic and foreign policy.
The appearance follows a turbulent few days for his government, including a Supreme Court ruling invalidating his global tariff regime and new data showing the economy slowed more than expected, while inflation accelerated.
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The Department of Homeland Security is practically paralyzed due to a dispute between Republicans and Democrats in Congress over the administration’s aggressive immigration tactics following the murder of two US citizens in Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, Trump has struggled to turn the page on the scandal surrounding the government’s release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday showed that six in 10 Americans, including a significant portion of Republicans, think Trump has become erratic as he has aged.
A White House official said the theme of Trump’s speech is “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected” — a reference to the country’s 250th anniversary this year.
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With Americans concerned about prices, Trump will announce a plan that will require technology companies to pay higher electricity costs in communities where new AI data centers are being built, the official said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president will lay out an agenda to boost the economic prospects of American workers.
Trump, who has openly coveted the Nobel Peace Prize and created his own “Peace Council,” appears to be moving ever closer to a military conflict with Iran over its nuclear program, sending warships to the Middle East and developing plans that could include a change of government, according to U.S. officials.
A public case against Iran
Tuesday’s speech could offer Trump the chance to make a public case for military intervention in Iran for the first time.
Two White House aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump will discuss his Iran plans but did not provide details.
He will also disclose his record in negotiating peace agreements, they said. He will speak on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a reminder that he has not yet resolved the war he once said could end “in 24 hours.”
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The president is expected to comment on the Supreme Court’s decision on tariffs, arguing that the court got it wrong and outlining alternative laws he can use to reconstitute most of the tariffs.
Trump reacted furiously to the ruling last week, personally attacking several judges. A repeat performance this Tuesday could cause some awkward moments; At least some of the court’s nine justices are expected to be present.
White House aides and Republican campaign consultants, eyeing the difficult midterm elections, urged Trump to focus on Americans’ economic concerns. Trump’s victory in the 2024 election was based largely on his promises to ease the cost of living, but opinion polls show voters are not convinced by his efforts so far.
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Trump has struggled to stay on message, veering in public speeches from the economy to his long list of grievances, while at other times declaring that he has solved the problem.
One of the White House officials said that Trump “will claim victory on the economy,” a message that Republican lawmakers running for re-election are unlikely to receive well. He will argue that he inherited a weak economy from his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, and that Democrats exaggerated affordability concerns, the two sources said.
Trump will point to stock market gains, private sector investments and his tax cut legislation as evidence that he has helped the economy, aides said. The president will also promote his tough border policies and deportation campaign, despite polls showing that most Americans believe his administration has gone too far in persecuting illegal immigrants.
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“This is the only opportunity the president has where the entire world is watching what he has to say, and this is his opportunity to sum up everything he’s done and not go off script,” said Amanda Makki, a Republican strategist and former Florida congressional candidate.
Trump, who has a penchant for improvising, said on Monday that his speech would be long. His 100-minute address last March—technically not a State of the Union address, but similar—was the longest presidential address to Congress in modern history.
White House advisers said this year’s edition was designed with room for improvised moments.
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“We are planning around that,” said an aide.
Some Democrats decide not to participate
Last year, some Democrats interrupted Trump’s speech with boos before walking out in protest. This time, more than 20 Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate plan to ignore the speech altogether in favor of an outdoor rally on the National Mall.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, one of those Democrats, told reporters on Monday that the event would offer a “more honest depiction” of Trump’s record rather than the speech’s “propaganda.”
Virginia Gov. Abby Spanberger, whose victory in November was seen as an early warning sign for Republicans in the midterm elections, will deliver Democrats’ official response to the speech.
Democratic Senator Alex Padilla, who was pushed to the ground and handcuffed last year after trying to ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a question at a press conference, will deliver the rebuttal in Spanish.
