Feb. 24, 2026 — Washington President Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term tonight before a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill, previewing a “long speech” emphasizing economic progress amid foreign policy tensions and domestic hurdles like tariffs and immigration enforcement.
Trump previewed the address, stating, “We have a country that’s now doing well… you’ll be hearing me say that,” according to reports from AP News and social media posts. Expected themes include tax cuts, no taxes on tips, border security, mass deportations, and government reforms, as the president outlines his agenda despite a Supreme Court ruling curbing his tariff powers and rising Iran tensions.
The speech comes as Trump addresses a “changed nation,” with aides highlighting accomplishments like the Dow reaching 50,000, cooling inflation, and closed borders. House Speaker Mike Johnson described Trump as the “most consequential” president of the modern era, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries countered, “The state of the union is falling apart.”
Pew Research polling shows stark divides: only 28% rate the economy excellent or good, with 49% of Republicans positive versus 10% of Democrats. Majorities worry about health care (71%), food costs (66%), and housing (62%), while 60% disapprove of tariff increases and 72% oppose immigration officers using appearances for checks.
Seating chart and watch guide from WESH ahead of the address.
Guests and Boycotts
Trump invited the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team—fresh off a gold medal win over Canada—to attend after FaceTiming them, facilitated by FBI Director Kash Patel. The women’s gold medal team declined due to “timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments,” per USA Hockey.
The White House did invite the U.S. women's hockey team to the State of the Union but a spokesperson says while they are "sincerely grateful" for the recognition, the players are unable to attend "due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments." pic.twitter.com/something
— Monica Alba (@albamonica) February 23, 2026
Other guests include a New Hampshire Food Bank director with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen to spotlight affordability. Some Democrats, including Sen. Ed Markey, plan to boycott, with others opting for silence.
Live Coverage
The address airs live on C-SPAN, PBS News, ABC, and SiriusXM channels. A Democratic response follows.
