President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union speech tonight, February 24, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET — and few addresses in recent memory have arrived under such intense pressure. With Iran tensions escalating, tariffs in legal turmoil, and the economy sending mixed signals to everyday Americans, this speech carries enormous weight. The stakes couldn’t be higher as Trump steps before Congress to make his case to a nation that is increasingly divided over the direction he is taking the country.
Tonight’s address is Trump’s first formal State of the Union of his second term, and it comes at a pivotal moment on nearly every front. From the Middle East to the trade war to kitchen-table concerns about the cost of living, the president faces a crowded agenda and a skeptical public.
👉 Watching tonight or want to share your take? Keep reading — this is your full breakdown of what to expect.
The Iran Shadow: Military Action on the Table
Perhaps the most urgent issue hovering over tonight’s speech is the escalating standoff with Iran. Trump has been openly weighing military options against Tehran over its nuclear program, and U.S. warships have been repositioned to the Middle East in recent weeks. White House officials have said Trump will address Iran during the speech, though they have declined to offer specifics about what he will say or announce.
The situation is delicate. The U.S. and Iran are scheduled to hold additional talks in Geneva later this week, and any military language from Trump tonight could reshape those negotiations before they even begin. Trump has publicly stated he is considering a range of options, including a limited strike designed to strengthen America’s negotiating position. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also expected to meet with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, with Iran expected to dominate that conversation.
For many Americans watching tonight, this will be the portion of the speech they watch most closely. The prospect of U.S. military involvement in a new conflict — even a limited one — is not a message that lands easily in a country still processing years of foreign entanglements.
The Tariff Crisis: A Supreme Court Blow Changes Everything
Just days before this speech, the Supreme Court handed Trump one of the most significant defeats of his second term. In a 6-3 ruling, the court struck down his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose sweeping global tariffs, calling it an overreach of presidential authority. The ruling landed like a bombshell, particularly because two of the justices who ruled against him were his own appointees.
Trump has responded by invoking Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows him to impose a 10 percent — now expanded to 15 percent — global tariff. However, that authority comes with limits: the tariffs cannot exceed 15 percent and expire after 150 days unless Congress extends them. Senate Democrats have already vowed to block any extension.
Tonight, Trump is expected to argue that the court got it wrong and outline his path forward on trade. He will almost certainly insist that tariffs are working and that his trade policies are protecting American workers. The reality, however, is more complicated. The U.S. trade deficit hit a new high in 2025. Manufacturing jobs have continued to decline. And for the average American household, Trump’s tariffs added roughly $1,000 in additional tax expenses last year, according to analysis from the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation.
The optics inside the chamber tonight are notable: several of the Supreme Court justices who ruled against him are expected to attend, sitting in the front rows as Trump addresses Congress.
The Economy: Growth Up, Confidence Down
Trump has repeatedly told Americans that the economy is booming under his watch. He has claimed stock markets are surging, investments are pouring in, and America is experiencing historic growth. And there are data points that support parts of this picture. The S&P 500 has climbed about 14.5 percent since Trump took office. The economy posted strong growth in the second and third quarters of 2025.
But the fourth quarter told a different story. GDP growth slowed to just 1.4 percent — down sharply from 4.4 percent the quarter before. Inflation has picked back up. And a new CNN poll shows that just 32 percent of Americans believe Trump has had the right priorities as president. Majorities disapprove of how he has handled the economy, tariffs, immigration, and relations with other countries.
Trump to deliver State of the Union speech amid Iran, tariffs and economy anxieties is not just a headline — it’s a description of the corner the president finds himself in tonight. He must convince an increasingly skeptical public that his policies are working, even as the data tell a more complicated story.
The DHS Shutdown: A Crisis at Home
Adding to the turbulence of tonight’s speech is an ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. The funding lapse was triggered by a standoff between congressional Democrats and the White House over immigration enforcement, following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis by federal agents. The shutdown has impacted the Transportation Security Administration and FEMA, among other agencies, and federal workers face partial paychecks beginning February 27 if the impasse isn’t resolved.
Trump is expected to defend his immigration record tonight, pointing to 675,000 deportations and 2.2 million self-deportations over the past year. But public support for his immigration agenda has slipped significantly — from 49 percent approval in March 2025 to just 38 percent today.
The Epstein Wildcard
Another issue that could surface tonight — or at least linger in the room — is the ongoing fallout from the partial release of Jeffrey Epstein-related government files. Multiple Democratic lawmakers have invited Epstein survivors as their guests for the speech, ensuring the topic will not fade quietly into the background. Trump, who was once socially acquainted with Epstein but has not been accused of wrongdoing, has struggled to move past the controversy.
The Democratic Response
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger will deliver the official Democratic response following Trump’s address. Spanberger, who made history as the first woman elected governor of Virginia, is expected to focus on lowering costs, protecting healthcare, and defending civil liberties. California Senator Alex Padilla will deliver the Spanish-language response.
Dozens of Democrats are skipping the speech entirely, opting instead for a counterprogram on the National Mall organized by MoveOn.org — a sign of how polarized the moment has become.
What This Speech Could Mean
With midterm elections approaching in November, tonight’s State of the Union carries political urgency beyond the policy details. Trump needs to reverse sliding poll numbers and energize his base. He needs to show that his approach to Iran is not reckless, that his tariff strategy has a future even without the court’s backing, and that the American economy is genuinely delivering for working families.
Whether or not he succeeds in any of those goals may depend less on what he says tonight and more on what happens in the days and weeks that follow — in Geneva, in the markets, and in the lives of ordinary Americans trying to make sense of a rapidly shifting country.
What do you think — will Trump’s State of the Union change minds, or has the political divide made speeches like this less impactful than ever? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and stay tuned for full post-speech analysis.
