President Trump will address Congress on Tuesday at 9 p.m., outlining his government overhaul and foreign policy shifts in his first prime-time speech of his second term. He is expected to discuss extensive staff firings, the tense Ukraine-U.S. relationship, a crackdown on illegal border crossings, and proposed tax cuts that may significantly increase the federal deficit. Responses will come from Senator Elissa Slotkin for Democrats, Representative Adriano Espaillat in Spanish, and progressive Representative Lateefah Simon. Guests will include victims of A.I.-related crimes and families impacted by immigration policies, highlighting the ongoing division in Congress.
President Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night at 9 p.m., where he is anticipated to unveil his bold plans for reshaping the federal government and altering U.S. foreign policy during his first televised primetime speech of his second term.
He is likely to discuss the extensive staff dismissals impacting nearly every facet of the federal government. Furthermore, he may touch on the tense dynamics with Ukraine following a heated exchange with the country’s leader last week, while he has attempted to strengthen relations with Russia and secure a critical minerals deal with Ukraine.
The president could also highlight his administration’s efforts to curb illegal border crossings, which coincided with a reduction in the number of migrants at the Southern border, alongside his legislative initiatives for tax and spending cuts that could potentially escalate the federal deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars.
Here’s what you need to know.
Where can I watch?
The New York Times will stream the address live at nytimes.com, accompanied by real-time analysis from journalists. Major television networks and cable channels will also broadcast the speech.
Who will deliver responses?
Democrats have selected Senator Elissa Slotkin, a first-term representative from Michigan, to offer their rebuttal to Mr. Trump’s address. Ms. Slotkin, 48, narrowly secured her Senate seat last November in a swing state that Mr. Trump won. She first entered the House in 2018, alongside other moderate Democratic women with military or intelligence backgrounds, who were chosen to counter Mr. Trump. Ms. Slotkin has previously served as a C.I.A. analyst and held national security roles under both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.
Representative Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat from New York, will provide a Spanish-language response to Mr. Trump’s address. He is notable for being the first Dominican American and the first undocumented immigrant to previously serve in Congress. As a state legislator, Mr. Espaillat was a strong advocate for the New York policy that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, which the Trump administration has challenged in court.
Progressive Democrats have appointed Representative Lateefah Simon from California, who won an open seat in the East Bay area last November, to give their response. Ms. Simon holds the distinction of being the first member of Congress born blind and will deliver the response on behalf of the Working Families Party.
Who will attend?
Typically, the president and first lady invite guests to occupy the first lady’s box during the address.
Melania Trump has invited Elliston Berry, a teenage victim of A.I.-generated pornography, along with her mother and stepfather. Lawmakers from both parties have been advocating for legislation that would criminalize the publication of explicit images without consent and mandate social media platforms to remove such content.
Speaker Mike Johnson has extended invitations to Tom Homan, known as Mr. Trump’s “border czar” at the White House, and Olivia Hayes, whose husband, Wesley Hayes, tragically died in a car accident involving an undocumented immigrant driving under the influence. Senator Joni Ernst from Iowa has also expressed her intention to invite Scott Root, the father of Sarah Root, who lost her life in 2016 to a drunk driver who was in the U.S. illegally.
During President Joseph R. Biden’s State of the Union address last year, Republicans wore pins and shirts featuring Laken Riley, a nursing student killed by an undocumented Venezuelan migrant, in a show of support for Mr. Trump’s immigration policies.
Democratic legislators have invited individuals impacted by the swift and indiscriminate firings of federal employees under the Trump administration. Senator Tina Smith from Minnesota will welcome Kate Severson, one of approximately 1,000 National Park Service staff members laid off on Feb. 14. Representative Brad Schneider of Illinois will bring along Adam Mulvey, a 20-year Army veteran who was recently terminated from a veterans’ healthcare facility.