On Tuesday night, U.S. President Donald Trump will address Congress, concluding an eventful and consequential first few weeks of his presidency. This address, commonly known as the State of the Union, will provide Trump with a platform to outline his plans for the U.S economy and immigration policy, as well as to justify his controversial decisions such as cutting the federal workforce and confronting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
However, amidst Trump’s ambitious agenda, his greatest challenge will be to unite the Republican majority in the Senate and House of Representatives in order to pass a budget by the March 14th deadline. The Republicans are divided on issues such as cutting social safety net programs like Medicaid (which provides health insurance to low-income individuals) to reduce the U.S. debt and fund an extension of the 2017 tax cuts that were passed during Trump’s first term.
Trump has called for “one big, beautiful bill” to fund his domestic policy agenda. “We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but we are going to deliver the America First agenda,” said Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican advocate of Trump’s policies, in a press conference last week. “We’re going to deliver all of it, not just parts of it.”
However, Congressional Democrats have criticized the budget, claiming that it primarily benefits the wealthy. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated last week, “Make no mistake, it will rob seniors, kids and the disabled to pay for the rich to get richer.”
In addition to domestic policy, Trump is also expected to address the rationale behind the U.S. imposing tariffs on other countries. On Monday, he confirmed that the U.S. will be imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. He stated, “They’re going to have to have a tariff, so what they have to do is build their car plants, frankly, and other things in the United States, in which case they have no tariffs.”
However, experts believe that this strategy may not yield the desired results. Shannon Bow O’Brien, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin, stated, “Probably what’s going to happen is most manufacturers are going to move to other countries where the tariffs are not imposed, or they will simply move their business elsewhere.” She added, “Or we’re going to see other countries making it even cheaper, so then when the tariffs are imposed, the prices will stay the same. I don’t believe it’s going to achieve what he wants, which is to have manufacturing come back to the United States.”
Trump’s first few weeks in office were marked by executive orders addressing one of the key issues of his campaign – immigration reform. In his address on Tuesday, he is expected to highlight the security measures being taken at the U.S. southern border with Mexico.
The establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by billionaire Elon Musk may also feature in Trump’s speech. This department aims to streamline government processes and increase efficiency.
While domestic issues traditionally take the center stage in presidential addresses to Congress, Trump will also have to address pressing foreign policy challenges. After his meeting with Zelenskyy last Friday, Trump stated that he does not believe Ukraine has sufficiently acknowledged the United States’ contribution of nearly $200 billion towards the ongoing conflict in Ukraine that began in 2014 when Russia invaded the country.
Trump may also talk about the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza and his plans for real estate development in the region, a controversial move that has been met with criticism from many.
The Democratic response to Trump’s address will be delivered by Senator and former CIA analyst Elissa Slotkin. Slotkin, who won the swing state of Michigan in the 2020 election, focused on the economy in her campaign.
In conclusion, Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday promises to be a defining moment in his presidency. It will not only lay out his vision for the country’s future but also reflect on the first few weeks of his term which have been marked by bold and sometimes controversial decisions. As the nation eagerly awaits the State of the Union, one thing is certain – Trump will not shy away from defending his actions and promoting his America First agenda.
