WASHINGTON, D.C. — All eyes are on Capitol Hill tonight, which is where President Donald Trump will deliver the State of the Union address to Congress.
The prime-time speech to the country will come amid major tensions at home and abroad. The annual address is a constitutional obligation — but it’s also a political opportunity for presidents to tout accomplishments, priorities and policies.
The president will likely discuss successes at the southern border, immigration, public safety, foreign policy, peacemaking and the economy. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed with reporters Tuesday morning that the economy and affordability will be the primary focus.
An AP-NORC poll this month found a majority — nearly 60% — of Americans disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy.
And just days ago, the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the president’s sweeping global tariffs — handing the administration a major legal setback. Still, analysts expect a confident tone from the president tonight.
Republicans are excited to hear from the president, and accomplishments over the past year.
“Number one, I think he’s going to just tell it like it is. He inherited one of the worst economies since the Depression,” said Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich. “The cost of everything was way up, borders were open- just basically a dysfunctional Washington, D.C., federal bureaucratic operation.”
Democrats predict the president will blame and deflect — especially on the economy.
“I don’t know a single person who, if they really like, keep book on what he has done in the past year can say with a straight face that their costs are down. Cost of food, cost of health care, housing. None of them have gone down,” said Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich. “Just like under Biden, right. I mean, Michiganders understood their own pocketbooks and you couldn’t tell them one way or another, you know, more than they knew themselves. And I think they know that they don’t have more money in their pocket today than they did a year ago.”
Republicans also said it’s imperative that the president reminds Americans about major policies that they say will eventually save taxpayers more money. One prime example Republicans point to is the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” now commonly referred to as the “Working Families Tax Cuts Act” by most Republicans.
“Our first year has set the stage now for the next year, because when people file their taxes here, they’re going to see what we did in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, that they’re going to have more money in their pocket and they’re not going to have to spend as much money on gas. They’re not going to have to spend as much money at the grocery store,” said Bergman. “But it takes time. And that’s, I think, what his message is going to be tonight.”
Many Democrats have opted to boycott the address. Sen. Slotkin won’t be one of them.
“Michigan voted for Donald Trump. They also voted for me on the same ballot in 2024. The State of the Union is a tradition that’s gone on long before Donald Trump, it’ll go on long after Donald Trump,” said Slotkin. “It’s part of who we are. And I think even if I don’t agree with a lot of things he has to say tonight- going and sitting in the room is part of my responsibility as a senator from the state of Michigan.”
The stakes are high tonight for Trump, and analysts say messaging is important — especially in a critical midterm election year where his party is trying to maintain control in both the House and Senate. Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House and will face a tough road to keep control come November.
Former Congresswoman and Governor of Virginia Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic rebuttal following the address.
