“It’s Going to Be a Long Speech”: Trump Signals Expansive State of the Union Address
President Donald Trump offered a preview of his upcoming State of the Union address on Monday, telling reporters to expect an extended speech.
“It’s going to be a long speech,” Trump said. “Because we have so much to talk about.”
The president spent part of the weekend reviewing the address with a small group of senior advisers, according to officials familiar with the preparations.
While Trump has historically avoided traditional rehearsal sessions, including reading speeches aloud in full, aides said he practiced by recreating the physical setup of the House chamber, where he will speak Tuesday night.
High-Stakes Moment
The address comes at a pivotal moment in Trump’s presidency. Recent polls show his approval ratings declining, and some Republicans are concerned about losing control of at least one chamber of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.
At the same time, the Supreme Court recently ruled against the administration’s global tariff policy, and Trump is weighing potential military action involving Iran. Those developments are expected to feature prominently in the speech.
Behind the Scenes
Ross Worthington, the White House director of speechwriting, led the drafting process. Worthington has worked with Trump since before his first term began in 2017 and contributed to several previous State of the Union addresses.
Other aides involved in the preparation included Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Communications Director Steven Cheung and Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley.
Trump is also expected to continue a longstanding tradition by hosting a pre-speech lunch with anchors from major television networks, including NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox and CNN. According to officials, invitations were also extended to representatives from newer digital media outlets.
A Public Signal
On Sunday, Trump aide Dan Scavino shared a social media photo showing the president standing behind a lectern resembling the one used for the State of the Union. In the image, Trump was on the phone congratulating the U.S. men’s hockey team after its Olympic gold medal victory.
The call was reportedly arranged by FBI Director Kash Patel, who was with the team. During the conversation, Trump invited the players to attend Tuesday’s address and instructed Patel to coordinate the logistics.
With domestic policy, trade disputes and foreign affairs dominating headlines, Trump appears poised to use the speech to outline his agenda and to defend his record at a time of heightened political pressure.
If his own description is any indication, the address will be comprehensive.
