On Tuesday night, President Donald Trump will deliver the first joint congressional address of his second presidency. While this address is not officially titled the State of the Union, it serves as a significant opportunity for Trump to outline his priorities for the upcoming year. Below is everything you need to know about tuning in to this important address.
Trump's remarks to Congress are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET. Make sure to mark your calendars to catch the latest updates and policy initiatives directly from the president.
A variety of networks plan to broadcast Trump's address across their broadcast and streaming platforms. This includes special programming both before and after the event. Additionally, the Associated Press will provide a livestream of the address on its website, apnews.com, as well as on its YouTube channel.
The joint address will take place in the U.S. House chamber, which is larger than the Senate chamber, allowing it to accommodate both House and Senate lawmakers, along with other invited officials. This setting is traditional for such high-profile events, ensuring that all key figures are present.
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court and Trump's Cabinet will be in attendance. Notably, there will be one Cabinet member designated as the “designated survivor,” who is intentionally absent from the event to maintain a line of presidential succession in case of a catastrophic event. Additionally, the president usually invites special guests who have personal connections or relevant associations with the topics he plans to discuss.
Following Trump's address, the opposing party, in this case the Democrats, will deliver a response. This year, Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, who previously served in the House, will present the Democrats’ rebuttal, focusing on economic issues. In addition, Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York, chair of the Hispanic Caucus, will provide a Spanish-language response to reach a broader audience.
It’s worth noting that on Saturday, Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States, which affects how federal agencies provide services and documents in languages other than English.
The State of the Union address is traditionally a review of the past year. Since Trump was inaugurated for a second term only on January 20, he has been in office for just over a month. Newly inaugurated presidents typically use their first joint congressional address to set the tone for their legislative agenda, rather than reflecting on previous accomplishments. According to the Congressional Research Service, average policy requests made in a first-year address total around 42.
This joint congressional address promises to be a pivotal moment as President Trump outlines his vision for the upcoming year. Stay tuned for updates and insights following the address.
