In a joint session of Congress, President Trump is set to highlight his administration’s achievements, including reduced border crossings and his push for significant tax cuts, amid ongoing lawsuits challenging his agenda. He’s poised to reaffirm his confrontational stance towards Ukraine’s President Zelensky, reflecting tensions from their recent interactions. While Trump touts a dramatic drop in border encounters, Democrats argue his cuts to federal jobs harm veterans, pointing to individuals like Army veteran Adam Mulvey, who was recently fired. The president’s ambitious legislative agenda, seeking $4 trillion in tax cuts, faces slow progress in Congress and potential backlash over proposed deep spending cuts.
President Trump is anticipated to highlight his campaign against the federal bureaucracy and his initiatives to reshape international relations in an address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. This comes at a time when his administration is facing legal challenges regarding his domestic policies and receiving criticism from Europe for his approach to Ukraine.
In what will be his largest television audience since regaining power, Mr. Trump is expected to discuss the rapid progress he has made in reducing border crossings, implementing cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, and a series of executive orders. He will likely stress the importance of advancing his legislative agenda, which proposes around $4 trillion in tax reductions.
“He’s going to discuss the significant accomplishments: the secure border and the waste he’s uncovering with DOGE,” remarked Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who frequently communicates with Mr. Trump. “He will continue outlining his vision for the country’s future.”
For Mr. Trump, this marks a significant return to a chamber — and to a prime-time, nationwide audience — he addressed five years ago, prior to being voted out of office and succeeded by Joseph R. Biden Jr. His comeback has triggered a rapid series of actions aimed at reversing decades of policy and diplomacy.
Throughout his first term, the president delivered an annual address to Congress filled with a mix of hyperbole and grievance-laden critiques of his adversaries. He is expected to do the same this Tuesday night, utilizing one of the largest platforms afforded to any contemporary president during their tenure in the Oval Office.
Mr. Trump suggested on Monday that he might leverage the speech to prolong his public dispute with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, following last week’s intense exchange between the two leaders. When a reporter asked if a deal regarding the sharing of rare-earth minerals was still feasible after their argument, Mr. Trump replied, “I’ll let you know,” and added, “We’re making a speech, you probably heard.”
Later, he remarked about Mr. Zelensky, stating: “I just believe he should show more gratitude.”
The president is currently confronted with a barrage of lawsuits concerning his extensive executive actions, reductions in federal employment, and the layoffs of federal workers, which have been led by Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual and a key advisor to the president.
The pushback against Mr. Musk’s assertive initiatives, particularly from courts nationwide, has been a source of frustration for the president and his team. During his first term, Mr. Trump frequently expressed anger towards judges when they obstructed his agenda.
Critics of the president are bracing for more of the same rhetoric on Tuesday as they attempt to mitigate the rapid pace of firings and spending cuts at federal agencies.
Democrats intend to underscore how the federal cuts have adversely affected veterans. Representative Brad Schneider, a Democrat from Illinois, announced that he would invite Adam Mulvey, an Army veteran who served the nation for 20 years, as his guest.
Mr. Mulvey was one month away from completing his probationary period at Lovell Federal Health Care Center when he was dismissed in the early hours of February 13. He was among nearly 6,000 veterans who lost their jobs during two weeks in February.
“It is appalling that Elon Musk and a cadre of unelected, unvetted DOGE individuals are treating veterans like Adam with brazen disrespect and complete disregard,” stated Mr. Schneider.
Republicans expect Mr. Trump to emphasize his administration’s successes in enforcing border policies. There has been a significant decline in the number of individuals attempting to cross the U.S. border.
Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, expressed her intention to invite Scott Root, the father of Sarah Root, as her guest. Ms. Root tragically lost her life in 2016, on the night of her college graduation, at the hands of a drunken driver who was in the country illegally.
“After a nine-year struggle for justice, this week we remember Sarah and the reality that under President Trump’s leadership, our nation’s laws will no longer prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens,” Ms. Ernst remarked.
While Mr. Trump forges ahead with executive orders, his legislative initiatives are progressing more slowly through Congress. The president is aiming to secure approximately $4 trillion in tax cuts and new funding for deportation efforts; however, hard-right members of the House are advocating for significant cuts to finance that agenda. It remains uncertain where those cuts will originate, particularly as proposals to reduce Medicaid have encountered unpopularity.
Since his inauguration, the president has consistently claimed that his administration has reversed what he termed a failing economy, overlooking the robust job growth experienced during the four years of Mr. Biden’s presidency. Mr. Trump is expected to discuss the tariffs he intends to impose on Canada, Mexico, China, and European nations, despite concerns from many economists that the outcome could lead to inflation and supply chain disruptions in the United States.