With Vice President JD Vance at his right, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, at his left, President Donald Trump‘s first State of the Union address of his second term comes at a pivotal moment.

Will the next State of the Union address see a different Speaker of the House seated behind Trump?

Preventing that potential midterm outcome is part of the aim of this address to the nation, which was delivered in the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Following his primetime address to the nation on Dec. 17, 2025, Trump has several potentially challenging subjects to address in what is already shaping up to be a heated midterm year.

Between the controversial enforcement of immigration laws, as well as action and intervention in other nations — namely, Venezuela — Trump will have to make the argument to the American people that these efforts are in the nation’s best interest, and not at its expense.

Similarly, these remarks are being made days after the Supreme Court shot down his reciprocal tariff policy, which Trump countered by instating a 15% global tariff through powers permitted by the Trade Act of 1974.

Notably absent from the State of the Union address are many Congressional Democrats, who are instead attending their own counter-programming rally, dubbed the “People’s State of the Union.”

In the House of Representatives, there are currently 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats. Meanwhile, in the Senate, there are 53 Republicans and 45 Democrats, with two Independents who caucus on Democrat lines.

Stating that he inherited “a nation in crisis” from the Biden administration, President Trump began his State of the Union address by declaring, “Our nation is back! Bigger, better, richer, and stronger than ever before.”

Speaking on the 250th anniversary of America, Trump said, “This July 4, we will mark two-and-a-half centuries of liberty and triumph, progress and freedom in the most incredible and exceptional nation ever to exist on the face of the earth.”

He added, “We’ve seen nothing yet. We’re going to do better and better and better. This is the golden age of America.”

A point of national pride was celebrated early on in Trump’s remarks as he introduced the Team USA Men’s Hockey team, which won gold, 2-1, in overtime against Canada at Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 22.

As the team filed into the chamber, they were greeted by a rousing standing ovation.

There, Trump announced that the Men’s Hockey goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, will be honored with the highest civilian honor: the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Trump also noted that the Women’s Hockey team will be visiting the White House following some controversy over Trump’s invitation to the Men’s Hockey team, in which Trump joked he’d be “impeached” if he didn’t invite them.

Looking to the nation, Trump celebrated.

The number of illegal immigrants who have been released into the nation is zero, Trump said.

Further, fentanyl traffic at the U.S. border is down 56% from this point last year.

Watch President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address, here: