President Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term Tuesday night.It’s one of the biggest nights in politics, as the federal government’s top leaders convene in the House chamber to hear Trump highlight the administration’s accomplishments, address hot-button issues, lay out his vision, and set the tone for the 2026 midterms.Here’s a preview of what to expect:How to watchThe speech is scheduled for 9 p.m. Tuesday and will stream live on this site.Trump said Monday at an event that he expects the address to be lengthy.“I’m making a speech tomorrow night, and you’ll be hearing me say that,” he said. “I mean, it’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about.”Last year, the Republican president spoke for a record 100 minutes to a joint session of Congress. A president’s first-year address to Congress is not technically considered a State of the Union.Expected guestsAs is customary, several guests are expected to attend, from high-profile figures to everyday people whose stories highlight broader issues across the country.Guests are invited not only by Trump but also by congressional leaders.Among those reported so far:Conservative influencer Nick Shirley, who was behind the viral videos linking Minneapolis daycares to fraud allegations.Marimar Martinez, a Chicago woman who was shot five times by a federal immigration officer.Claire Lai, the daughter of pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai.The family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre and other Jeffrey Epstein survivors, including Haley Robson, Jess Michaels and Annie Farmer, the sister of Epstein survivor Maria Farmer.Trump also invited the gold medal-winning United States men’s and women’s hockey teams. The women’s team has declined the invitation, citing scheduling. It’s unclear if the men’s team will attend yet.Immigration and the economy are top of mindTrump swept back into the White House on promises to bring down prices and restore order to immigration in America. But on both issues, public sentiment has turned against him.Only 39% of U.S. adults approve of his economic leadership and just 38% support him on immigration, according to the latest Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey. Those low numbers show the country is still fretting about the costs of groceries, housing and utilities, a problem compounded by Trump’s whipsawing use of tariffs. They also show how the public was concerned by videos of violent clashes with protesters, including two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents.Since his party passed a massive tax cut bill last year, Trump has yet to unveil major new policy ideas on the economy. In recent speeches, he has largely offered the public reruns about his tax cuts, plans to reduce mortgage rates and a new government website for buying prescription drugs.The Supreme Court ruling against many of Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs on Friday and the president vowing to use other means to forge ahead with import taxes will only extend the economic unrest over trade and prices.“I think it makes it even more important that the speech really focus on the economy,” said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist.Conant said between the tariff ruling and a Commerce Department report on Friday that showed U.S. economic growth slowed in the final three months of last year, “the president needs to bolster his economic message.”Foreign policy looms largeDespite Trump’s America First credo, his approach abroad over the past year has sparked concerns among some of his supporters about whether he should spend more time focusing on voters at home.Trump, who’s made it clear he covets a Nobel Peace Prize, is likely to use the speech to remind Americans of his attempts to try to broker peace accords in global conflicts.Over the past year, the administration has conducted strikes in Yemen, Nigeria, and Iran, and carried out an ongoing campaign targeting suspected drug‑trafficking vessels near South America. In January, Trump announced a raid to capture Venezuela’s then‑leader, Nicolás Maduro, and he later raised the possibility of using force to take control of Greenland. In recent weeks, as he pressures Iran, Trump has bolstered the U.S. military’s presence in the Middle East. But he has yet to make a clear case to voters about what his actions overseas mean for their lives.Related video below: Trump warns U.S. could strike Iran soon if country does not give up nuclear programHe might even minimize foreign policy in his State of the Union despite his belief that it’s been a major success.“For as much as foreign policy has dominated his last year in office, this speech will mostly focus on the economy,” Conant predicted.Vice President JD Vance offered a similar prediction, saying in an interview Saturday on Fox News Channel that in the speech, “you’re going to hear a lot about the importance of bringing jobs back into our country, of reshoring manufacturing, of all these great factories that are being built.”He said Trump would also speak about lowering energy costs.
President Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term Tuesday night.
It’s one of the biggest nights in politics, as the federal government’s top leaders convene in the House chamber to hear Trump highlight the administration’s accomplishments, address hot-button issues, lay out his vision, and set the tone for the 2026 midterms.
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Here’s a preview of what to expect:
How to watch
The speech is scheduled for 9 p.m. Tuesday and will stream live on this site.
Trump said Monday at an event that he expects the address to be lengthy.
“I’m making a speech tomorrow night, and you’ll be hearing me say that,” he said. “I mean, it’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about.”
Last year, the Republican president spoke for a record 100 minutes to a joint session of Congress. A president’s first-year address to Congress is not technically considered a State of the Union.
Expected guests
As is customary, several guests are expected to attend, from high-profile figures to everyday people whose stories highlight broader issues across the country.
Guests are invited not only by Trump but also by congressional leaders.
Among those reported so far:
- Conservative influencer Nick Shirley, who was behind the viral videos linking Minneapolis daycares to fraud allegations.
- Marimar Martinez, a Chicago woman who was shot five times by a federal immigration officer.
- Claire Lai, the daughter of pro-democracy advocate Jimmy Lai.
- The family of Virginia Roberts Giuffre and other Jeffrey Epstein survivors, including Haley Robson, Jess Michaels and Annie Farmer, the sister of Epstein survivor Maria Farmer.
Trump also invited the gold medal-winning United States men’s and women’s hockey teams. The women’s team has declined the invitation, citing scheduling. It’s unclear if the men’s team will attend yet.
Immigration and the economy are top of mind
Trump swept back into the White House on promises to bring down prices and restore order to immigration in America. But on both issues, public sentiment has turned against him.
Only 39% of U.S. adults approve of his economic leadership and just 38% support him on immigration, according to the latest Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey. Those low numbers show the country is still fretting about the costs of groceries, housing and utilities, a problem compounded by Trump’s whipsawing use of tariffs. They also show how the public was concerned by videos of violent clashes with protesters, including two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents.
Since his party passed a massive tax cut bill last year, Trump has yet to unveil major new policy ideas on the economy. In recent speeches, he has largely offered the public reruns about his tax cuts, plans to reduce mortgage rates and a new government website for buying prescription drugs.
The Supreme Court ruling against many of Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs on Friday and the president vowing to use other means to forge ahead with import taxes will only extend the economic unrest over trade and prices.
“I think it makes it even more important that the speech really focus on the economy,” said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist.
Conant said between the tariff ruling and a Commerce Department report on Friday that showed U.S. economic growth slowed in the final three months of last year, “the president needs to bolster his economic message.”
Foreign policy looms large
Despite Trump’s America First credo, his approach abroad over the past year has sparked concerns among some of his supporters about whether he should spend more time focusing on voters at home.
Trump, who’s made it clear he covets a Nobel Peace Prize, is likely to use the speech to remind Americans of his attempts to try to broker peace accords in global conflicts.
Over the past year, the administration has conducted strikes in Yemen, Nigeria, and Iran, and carried out an ongoing campaign targeting suspected drug‑trafficking vessels near South America. In January, Trump announced a raid to capture Venezuela’s then‑leader, Nicolás Maduro, and he later raised the possibility of using force to take control of Greenland.
In recent weeks, as he pressures Iran, Trump has bolstered the U.S. military’s presence in the Middle East. But he has yet to make a clear case to voters about what his actions overseas mean for their lives.
Related video below: Trump warns U.S. could strike Iran soon if country does not give up nuclear program
He might even minimize foreign policy in his State of the Union despite his belief that it’s been a major success.
“For as much as foreign policy has dominated his last year in office, this speech will mostly focus on the economy,” Conant predicted.
Vice President JD Vance offered a similar prediction, saying in an interview Saturday on Fox News Channel that in the speech, “you’re going to hear a lot about the importance of bringing jobs back into our country, of reshoring manufacturing, of all these great factories that are being built.”
He said Trump would also speak about lowering energy costs.
