WASHINGTON — On Tuesday night, the country will hear a new president deliver a speech before Congress, setting a different tone from previous years. Some Americans will support his message, while others will strongly disagree.
Gone are the old phrases like “we strongly support NATO” and “I believe in free trade.” That was Donald Trump in 2017, when he was still adjusting to the presidency. Back then, he included some efforts toward unity and bipartisanship. It would take three more years before Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi dramatically tore up his speech in protest.
Now, Trump returns to address Congress, and the country will see whether he speaks to all Americans or only to those who voted for him. Will he stick to tradition, as he did in his first speech, or lean into showmanship and controversy?
This address comes just days after a tense moment in the White House, where Trump publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not showing enough gratitude for U.S. military aid. Many saw this as a rare moment of an American president openly humiliating an allied leader.
Reactions to Trump’s speech will vary. In Florida, Jarrett Borden expects an entertaining event, joking that Trump might “leave the mic open for Elon Musk.” Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, artist Nova Villanueva plans to avoid the speech and focus on personal peace instead of politics.
A new president’s first speech to Congress is not officially called a State of the Union address, but it serves the same purpose—outlining accomplishments and future plans. Traditionally, presidents claim that the state of the union is strong, regardless of challenges. Trump initially ran for office by saying the country was in decline and needed fixing.
His 2017 address reflected some of his core ideas: urging NATO allies to increase military spending, calling for “fair” trade, and promoting policies to encourage immigrants to return home. However, his first speech did not include the drastic policies and rhetoric seen today, such as mass deportations and environmental deregulation.
In 2017, Trump also worked with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to support women entrepreneurs. Now, he mocks Trudeau and threatens tariffs on Canada and Mexico, leading Canadians to display their national pride in response.
Some Americans, like Philadelphia’s Michael Mangraviti, support Trump’s government cuts, believing Washington is inefficient. Others, like Cassandra Piper, oppose his policies, arguing that mass deportations and extreme budget cuts harm society.
Despite the divisions, many agree on one thing: Trump’s speech will be memorable, whether for its policy direction or its dramatic moments.
