Trump's state of the Union address tonight

The State of the Union address

President Donald Trump will address both chambers of Congress today in what will be his first State of the Union since beginning his second term.

Scheduled for 9 p.m., the speech will mark Trump’s second address to Congress since he reclaimed the White House, coming roughly one year after his March 4, 2025, address to a joint session.

Unlike that speech, the State of the Union address is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Presidents have historically used the occasion to speak on the top issues of the day, their appraisal of the state of the United States, their plans for the future, and legislative requests.

The address, on the year of the United States’ 250th anniversary, comes as the Department of Homeland Security remains shut down, reflecting a larger national debate over the administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. Abroad, the Trump administration’s tariffs, diplomacy, and military pressure are driving epochal shifts on every continent.

Where to Watch: The State of the Union address will be easily accessible through a variety of platforms. Like all other official activities on the floor of Congress, the address will be streamed on C-SPAN. Viewers can also watch the speech on NTD, The Epoch Times’ sister media outlet, which will stream the address live online in addition to cable and satellite feeds. NTD’s coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET.

Democrats’ Boycott: A growing list of Democrats has announced plans to skip the event entirely this year in favor of an event dubbed a “People’s State of the Union.”

Democrats’ Response: This year, Democrats’ response will be delivered by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.