Trump to Deliver State of the Union Address as Second Term Agenda Faces Congressional Test

The president will outline legislative priorities, immigration policy and economic milestones during his first State of the Union of his second term.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

President Donald Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress on Feb. 24 at 9 p.m. in his first State of the Union speech since beginning his second term in office.

The address will mark Trump’s second appearance before both chambers since returning to the White House, following his March 4, 2025, speech to a joint session of Congress roughly one year ago. Unlike that earlier appearance, the upcoming remarks are delivered pursuant to Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which requires the president to periodically inform Congress of the condition of the nation and recommend measures for consideration.

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The annual message traditionally provides presidents an opportunity to assess national conditions, outline legislative priorities and present policy proposals. This year’s address comes as the Department of Homeland Security remains shut down, reflecting broader disputes in Washington over immigration enforcement policy.

Trump is expected to highlight economic benchmarks reached during his administration, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassing 50,000 points. He may also address the Supreme Court’s recent decision invalidating his tariff authority and discuss how his administration plans to proceed in response.

Immigration policy is also anticipated to feature prominently in the speech. The president has previously stated that unlawful crossings along the southern border with Mexico have fallen to near-zero levels under his administration.

In addition, Trump is expected to urge passage of the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, legislation that would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to vote.

The speech coincides with the year marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.

The event will be broadcast widely. As with other official proceedings conducted on the House floor, the address will be streamed live on C-SPAN. The White House will also provide a livestream through its website and its YouTube channel.

Attendance traditionally includes the full membership of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, along with Supreme Court justices, members of the president’s Cabinet and senior military leaders. Because nearly all officials in the presidential line of succession gather in one location, the event is designated a national special security event.

To preserve continuity of government in the event of a catastrophe, one Cabinet member in the line of succession is selected as the “designated survivor” and taken to a secure, undisclosed location for the duration of the address. The identity of that official is typically revealed shortly before or during the speech. Last year, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins served in that role.

Officials in the presidential line of succession expected to attend this year include Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Senate President pro tempore Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Housing Secretary Scott Turner, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Members of Congress are permitted to invite guests, and the president may designate special invitees. This year, Trump has invited the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Olympic Hockey teams to attend following their gold medal victories over Canada.

Some Democratic lawmakers have announced plans to forgo attendance. A number have indicated they will instead participate in an event described as a “People’s State of the Union.” Sen. Adam Schiff of California is among those who have stated they will not attend the address.

In keeping with tradition, the party not holding the presidency will deliver a formal response. This year’s Democratic response will be presented by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives who was elected as the state’s first female governor last November. The response will air immediately following the president’s remarks and will be streamed on many of the same platforms carrying the main address, including C-SPAN.