- Trump declares the “Golden Age” at the beginning of his speech.
- His approval ratings drop sharply before the midterm elections.
- The poll shows that 60% of Americans consider Trump to be erratic.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump declared that “this is America’s Golden Age” at the start of his State of the Union address on Tuesday, seeking to project an aura of success at a tense time for his presidency and his Republican Party.
“Our nation is back: bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever,” he said after taking the stage to applause of “USA, USA” from his party’s members of Congress.
The annual address had high stakes for the president as his approval ratings fell, anxieties about Iran rose and Americans struggled with the cost of living as the November midterm elections approach.
The prime-time televised address to Congress, his second in the 13 months since he returned to the White House, offers Trump a chance to persuade voters to keep his fellow Republicans in power. But the president faces strong political headwinds at home and abroad.
Just days ago, the Supreme Court invalidated its global tariff regime and new data showed the economy slowed more than expected while inflation accelerated.
The Department of Homeland Security is largely closed due to a dispute between Republicans and Democrats in Congress over the administration’s aggressive immigration tactics, following the fatal shootings of two American citizens in Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, Trump has struggled to turn the page on the scandal surrounding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Opposition Democrats have invited several people who accuse Epstein of abusing them to the speech.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that six in 10 Americans, including 30% of Republicans, believe Trump, 79, has become erratic as he ages. Only 40% of respondents approved of his job performance, compared to 58% who disapproved.
A public case against Iran
Trump, who has openly coveted the Nobel Peace Prize and created his own “Peace Board,” also appears to be inching closer to a military conflict with Iran over its nuclear program.
Tuesday’s speech could offer Trump the opportunity to make a public case for military intervention for the first time. Two White House officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump will discuss his plans but did not offer details.
He will also tout his record of brokering peace agreements, they said. Tuesday marked the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a reminder that it has yet to resolve the war it once said could end within 24 hours.
The president was expected to address the Supreme Court’s decision on tariffs, arguing that the court was wrong and outlining alternative laws he can use to reconstitute most taxes.
Trump reacted angrily to the ruling last week, personally attacking several judges. A repeat performance on Tuesday could make for some awkward moments, with four of the court’s nine judges in attendance.
White House aides and Republican campaign advisers, expecting a challenging midterm congressional election, have urged Trump to focus on Americans’ economic concerns. Trump’s victory in the 2024 election was largely based on his promises to lower the cost of living, but opinion polls show voters are unconvinced by his efforts so far.
Trump has struggled to stay on message, veering in public speeches from the economy to his long list of grievances and at other times declaring that he has solved the problem.
One White House official said Trump will “claim victory on the economy,” a message that Republican lawmakers running for re-election will likely not welcome. He will argue that he inherited a poor economy from his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden and that Democrats have exaggerated concerns about affordability, both officials said.
Trump will point to stock market gains, private sector investments and his tax cut legislation as evidence that he has helped the economy, officials said. The president will also tout his tough border policies and deportation campaign, even though polls show most Americans believe his administration has gone too far in detaining undocumented immigrants.
A long speech is expected
Trump, who has a penchant for improvising, said Monday that his speech would be long. His 100-minute speech last March (not technically a State of the Union address, but similar) was the longest presidential address to Congress in modern history.
White House officials said this year’s edition was designed to leave room for unscripted moments.
“We are planning this,” an official said.
Last year, some Democrats interrupted Trump’s speech with boos before walking away in protest. This time, more than 20 Democrats in the House and Senate skipped the speech entirely and held an outdoor rally on the National Mall.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, whose decisive victory in November was seen as an early warning sign for midterm Republicans, will give the official Democratic response to the speech.
