State Of The Union 2026: Trump set to refocus on economy as he heads to Capitol
President Donald Trump will deliver his annual state of the union 2026 address to Congress at 21: 00 ET (02: 00 GMT), setting out his priorities for the year ahead and celebrating achievements since returning to the White House for a second term. Polls suggest Americans are souring on his agenda, so Trump will be aiming to convince voters to stick with him in November's midterm elections, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher writes. Edited by Caitlin Wilson and Oliver O'Connell.
State Of The Union 2026: What to watch in the chamber
Expect the president to cover both domestic and international topics when he speaks at 21: 00 ET (02: 00 GMT). Washington correspondent Daniel Bush says he will be watching whether Democrats interrupt and whether Trump sticks to his script. The broader headlines framing the address say Trump is set to refocus attention on the economy after a turbulent start to the year and that he speaks to Congress on shakier ground than last year.
Who is in the chamber and the flashpoints to follow
Congressman Al Green is in the chamber and chatting with his colleagues. The Texas Democrat disrupted Donald Trump’s speech to Congress last year and received a censure from the House of Representatives as a result. Because Texas redrew its legislative district lines, Green is in a tough reelection fight, and this might be his last State of the Union address.
Trump's short drive to the Capitol
Trump has left the White House on his way to the Capitol. It will be a short commute on blocked-off roads for the president, who is heading to his fourth State of the Union address - and the first of his second term in office. The drive is about two miles (3km). We'll let you know when Trump has arrived.
Democratic rebuttal from Colonial Williamsburg
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger will be giving the Democratic Party’s official rebuttal to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address tonight. She will be speaking from Colonial Williamsburg, an outdoor museum covering America's history as a British colony on the current-day US east coast. Reporter Grace Eliza Goodwin is filing from New York.
Live coverage and a note on the briefing
Live updates have been prepared to carry the address and related events; separate editorial pieces listed in the briefing include a title called "Client Challenge" with no body text. For viewers and readers, the immediate confirmed milestone is the president's scheduled start at 21: 00 ET (02: 00 GMT). North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher adds that, with polls showing waning support, Trump will aim during the state of the union 2026 speech to shore up voter backing ahead of the midterm contests in November.
The newsroom will post an update when Trump arrives at the Capitol and as the address unfolds.
