Trump State of the Union 2026: Date, Time, What to Expect Tonight — February 24, 2026
Tonight is the night. President Donald Trump delivers the 2026 State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 — his first true SOTU of his second term. Here is everything you need to know about when the State of the Union starts, how to watch, and what Trump is expected to say.
State of the Union 2026: Date, Time, and Where to Watch
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, February 24, 2026 |
| Start Time | 9:00 PM ET |
| Location | House Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C. |
| Theme | "America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected" |
| Presiding | VP JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson |
| Democratic Response | Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger |
| Spanish-Language Response | California Sen. Alex Padilla |
The Trump State of the Union 2026 begins at 9:00 PM ET sharp on Tuesday night. Pre-show coverage on most major networks starts earlier, with ABC News Live streaming special coverage from 7:00 PM ET. The address will air live on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News, PBS, C-SPAN, and will stream across all major platforms and network apps at no cost.
What Trump Is Expected to Say at the SOTU
The 2026 State of the Union theme — "America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected" — sets the tone for a speech expected to cover four major areas:
Economy and Affordability: Trump faces one of his most difficult economic messaging challenges heading into the SOTU. An AP-NORC poll found only 39% of Americans approve of his handling of the economy, while 59% disapprove. He is expected to roll out new measures to address affordability, including a program requiring technology companies to pay for electricity costs tied to AI data centers.
Tariffs: Less than one week ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the primary legal mechanism Trump had used to impose sweeping global tariffs. Trump has vowed to work around the ruling using other legal authorities. His reworked global tariffs went into effect today at a rate of 10%. Expect the president to address the court's rebuke directly.
Immigration and the DHS Shutdown: The Department of Homeland Security is currently in its second week of a partial shutdown after a Congressional deadlock over immigration enforcement funding. Democrats are demanding restrictions on ICE tactics, including ending "roving" patrols and barring ICE agents from wearing masks. Trump is expected to call on Democrats to end the shutdown tonight from the SOTU podium.
Foreign Policy and Iran: Trump is expected to tout his administration's foreign policy record, including military action targeting Iran's nuclear facilities. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain elevated, and Trump has not ruled out further military force if diplomatic talks fail.
Who Is in the Room — and Who Is Boycotting
Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson will be seated directly behind Trump on the dais. Members of the Supreme Court, full Cabinet, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and both chambers of Congress will be present. First Lady Melania Trump will host guests in her box tied to her Fostering the Future initiative.
More than two dozen Democratic lawmakers are boycotting the 2026 State of the Union entirely, opting instead for counterprogramming events on the National Mall and at the National Press Club. Progressive groups, including MoveOn.org, are hosting "State of the Swamp: The Rebuttal" starting at 7:00 PM ET at the National Press Club, featuring appearances from Sen. Ron Wyden, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, actor Mark Ruffalo, Stacey Abrams, and former CNN host Don Lemon.
The Democratic Response to the 2026 SOTU
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic Party's official response immediately following Trump's address. Spanberger — Virginia's first female governor — was elected in November in a race that gave Democrats a boost of optimism heading into 2026 midterms. California Sen. Alex Padilla will deliver the Spanish-language Democratic response. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Spanberger will focus on "lower everyday costs, protect healthcare, and defend the freedoms that define who we are as a nation."
Political Stakes: The 2026 Midterm Context
The Trump State of the Union 2026 arrives at a pivotal political moment. Republicans hold a 53–47 Senate majority and a razor-thin 218–214 House majority. Since World War II, the party controlling the White House has lost an average of 27 House seats and four Senate seats in midterm elections. With approval ratings underwater on the economy and a governing majority barely hanging on, tonight's SOTU is as much a midterm campaign kickoff as it is a constitutional address to Congress.
Tune in tonight at 9:00 PM ET across all major broadcast and cable networks for the Trump 2026 State of the Union address.
