By Ginika Igboke
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) formally invited President Donald Trump on Wednesday to deliver a State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 24, 2026.
“It is my distinct honor and great privilege to invite President Trump to deliver the State of the Union on February 24, 2026,” Johnson wrote in a post on X. He praised the president’s second term, adding that since returning to office, Trump “has not stopped working for the American people and delivering on his promises,” concluding, “The best is yet to come.”
The address would mark the first formal State of the Union of Trump’s second term. In a letter accompanying his public invitation, Johnson highlighted the historical significance of the moment, noting that the speech would take place during the 250th anniversary year of American independence.
“As our nation marks the Semiquincentennial Anniversary of American Independence, the United States stands stronger, freer, and more prosperous under your leadership and bold action,” Johnson wrote. He credited the administration and the 119th Congress with advancing what he described as one of the most consequential agendas in modern history, saying Americans across the country are already experiencing the tangible effects of what he called commonsense governance.
Johnson added that lawmakers look forward to continuing their work in 2026, emphasizing service to the American people, the defense of liberty, and the preservation of democratic self-governance. He formally invited the president to address a joint session of Congress in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives on the scheduled date.
If delivered, the speech would be Trump’s second address to Congress since returning to the presidency in January 2025. However, under long-standing tradition, a presidential address is only officially designated as a “State of the Union” after an administration has been in office for at least one year. As a result, the 2026 appearance would be Trump’s sixth joint address to Congress overall, but only his fourth formal State of the Union address since his first term began in 2017.
Trump previously addressed Congress in March 2025, less than two months after his return to the White House. That speech came as sweeping changes to federal agencies and the broader bureaucracy were already underway. In the address, Trump outlined plans for what he described as a “common sense revolution,” including expanded deportations and tax cuts aligned with his 2024 campaign promises.
At the time, congressional Republicans were still negotiating the early stages of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s signature tax and spending legislation, which was ultimately signed into law in July 2025.
While the president has not yet formally responded to Johnson’s invitation, he is widely expected to attend the constitutionally mandated annual address.
During his appearance on Capitol Hill this year, Trump is expected to speak under markedly different circumstances than in early 2025. He is likely to highlight the accomplishments of his first full year back in office, with particular emphasis on immigration enforcement and reductions in illegal border crossings.
The president is also expected to outline foreign policy achievements, including diplomatic efforts involving India and Pakistan, Israel and Gaza, and ongoing initiatives aimed at bringing an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
With midterm elections approaching, Trump may also use the address to address public concerns surrounding more contentious policy issues, including the lapse in funding for Affordable Care Act health care subsidies.
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