U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address to Congress on Wednesday, 13 months after starting his second term in office.
The speech is seen by the White House and the Republican Party as an opportunity to regain momentum in the polls ahead of November’s midterm elections, traditionally viewed as a referendum on the sitting president.
Trump gives State of the Union address amid Iran tensions and economic concerns
Trump is expected to outline his achievements and present his policy agenda for the coming year. While international audiences are closely watching for remarks on Iran — amid the possibility of a U.S. strike that could signal a broader war in the Middle East — many American voters remain focused on the cost of living and the state of the economy.
The White House has said Trump will declare that America is “strong and prosperous” as it approaches its 250th Independence Day on July 4. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said he will “proudly present the many historic achievements of his administration.”
The address is also widely viewed as a test run for the message Republicans plan to carry into November’s elections for control of the House and Senate. Polls suggest Trump and his party appear vulnerable, with many Americans expressing distrust over how he has managed the government in his first year back in office.
A Washington Post-ABC News poll published earlier this week found that 39% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance in office, while 41% approve of his handling of the economy. A recent Gallup survey found Democrats have an especially bleak view of national conditions, while Republicans are far more optimistic — a typical pattern for the party in power.
The polling has unsettled Republicans ahead of November, amid concerns they could lose their narrow majority in the House of Representatives.
Trump is addressing Congress days after a setback at the Supreme Court, where a conservative majority struck down his tariff program, a key element of his economic and foreign policy agenda, ruling he lacked authority to impose many of the sweeping tariffs. He is expected to defend the tariffs and criticize the justices. Several Supreme Court justices are in attendance.
The speech comes during a week marked by a U.S. military buildup in the Middle East and ahead of further nuclear talks with Iran scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. Trump is expected to justify his approach toward Tehran and reiterate threats of military action as he pressures Iran to agree to a new nuclear deal.
Following a classified briefing with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called the escalating tensions with Iran “an extraordinarily serious time” and urged Trump to clearly outline U.S. goals and how Washington intends to protect its interests in the region.
On Tuesday, Trump dismissed reports that some members of his administration have doubts about a potential war with Iran. “I am the one that makes the decision,” he wrote on Truth Social, adding that he would prefer a deal but warning that failure to reach one would result in “a very bad day” for Iran.
Reuters reported over the weekend that there is no consensus within the administration on a strike against Iran. A poll conducted last month found that 69% of Americans believe the United States should use military force only when facing a direct and immediate threat.
Trump has long promoted an “America First” platform and pledged to end prolonged U.S. military engagements abroad. A confrontation with Iran could therefore carry political risks ahead of the midterms.
Leavitt said Trump will also highlight U.S. military achievements, including Operation Midnight Hammer, during which the United States struck Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran. After the operation, Trump said Iran’s nuclear sites had been “obliterated.”
White House officials said Trump will discuss his plans regarding Iran but offered no details. He is also expected to frame his foreign policy within what the administration calls a strategy of “peace through strength.”
The address coincides with the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, is attending and said Kyiv hopes Trump will demonstrate leadership as efforts to mediate an end to the war continue.
More than 20 Democratic lawmakers from the House and Senate are boycotting the address and holding a rally outside Congress. House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said she would skip the speech and instead attend an alternative event, while Democratic leaders said attendance decisions were left to individual members.
Congress also remains at an impasse over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which shut down 10 days ago. Senate Democrats on Tuesday again blocked legislation to advance DHS funding, demanding changes to immigration enforcement practices. Trump is expected to call on Democrats to reopen the department.
Several Democrats have invited guests they say highlight the impact of the administration’s immigration crackdown, including relatives of detainees and advocates critical of federal enforcement tactics.
Among the invited guests is Hanan Lischinsky, brother of Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli Embassy employee who was killed in a shooting attack in Washington last year along with embassy staffer Sarah Milgrim. He is attending as a guest of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
First lady Melania Trump’s guests include Everest Nevraumont, an 11-year-old student and artificial intelligence advocate, and Sierra Burns, a foster care advocate who benefited from a program championed by the first lady.
Trump also invited members of the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, who met him at the White House earlier in the day after winning gold. In addition, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse are attending as guests of Democratic lawmakers, with some calling for the full release of related case files.
The State of the Union is the president’s annual report to Congress, required under the Constitution. This is Trump’s first official State of the Union since returning to the White House. His March 2025 address to Congress lasted one hour and 40 minutes. On Tuesday, the 79-year-old president said this speech “will be long, because we have so many things to talk about.”