President Donald Trump is set to deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term in office a year after returning to the White House. The speech is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
This address will take place at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., before a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber. Trump is expected to use his State of the Union address to discuss his achievements and legislative priorities for the year. He will also try to appeal to undecided midterm voters at a time when his disapproval rating is high.
The State of the Union address will be broadcast live on major networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, and others.
This will be Trump’s first official State of the Union of his second term, though he previously delivered a joint session speech to Congress in March 2025 shortly after taking office.
At Donald Trump’s first 2020 State of the Union address, which was the last State of the Union in his first term, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made headlines for her reaction at the end of Trump’s speech.
After Trump concluded his speech and turned to acknowledge the applause of Republican lawmakers, Pelosi, seated behind him, got up from her seat, collected her copy of the speech, and, to the astonishment of all, tore it in two. She acknowledged the act and described it as a protest against Trump’s misleading statements in the address. That moment became the highlight of that year’s State of the Union, reaffirming the known tension between the two major parties.
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Former leaders historically use the State of the Union to frame policy successes and set agendas for the coming year. President Trump’s 2026 speech is anticipated to be centered more on the economy, which White House officials believe is the highlight of his administration.
According to Reuters, the speech’s theme “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected” will highlight initiatives by this administration targeted at reducing the cost of living, addressing inflation, and prioritizing affordability for all Americans.
AP News reporting states that the president will, through his address, “reassure voters on economic concerns ahead of the 2026 midterm elections,” emphasizing the administration’s economic strengths in areas like job creation, investment attracted into the USA, improvements in domestic manufacturing, and stock market growth.
Though critics note that many Americans still struggle with the cost of living, Trump is expected to defend his first year in office.
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Trump is also expected to address his immigration policies, tariff strategies, the Supreme Court ruling that shut down the tariffs, and military initiatives in Iran and Venezuela. State of the Union addresses function as political messaging tools; presidents use them to address not just Congress but also citizens, to shape public opinion, lay out legislative battles, and define national conversations.
The 2026 address will be no different. Trump has an opportunity to consolidate his second-term narrative, defend his policies, and convince people he is still the best choice for the job amid the upcoming midterm elections.