President Donald Trump will deliver his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, AP reported, marking a significant moment in his controversial return to power as Americans remain sharply divided over the direction of the country. The address comes as nationwide protests against the Trump administration's policies have been organized across all 50 states and Washington D.C., timed to coincide with the president's speech.
The speech comes as Trump continues to consolidate his control in Washington, where Republican-led chambers of Congress have done little to check his administration's rapid policy reversals and executive actions. With firm control of his party following his survival of impeachments and criminal prosecutions, the president has moved aggressively to reshape the federal government.
According to AP, the White House described the theme of Trump's address as the "renewal of the American dream." Senior Adviser Stephen Miller said the speech represents "an opportunity for President Trump, as only he can, to lay out the last month of record-setting, record-breaking, unprecedented achievements and accomplishments."
While Democrats largely avoided Trump's January inauguration, they've opted not to boycott this address. Instead, they're bringing guests who've been directly affected by the administration's policies, including fired federal workers and individuals who would be harmed by proposed budget cuts to Medicaid and other programs.
Several Oregon Democrats are bringing fired federal workers with them to President Donald Trump's address to Congress on Tuesday, in apparent protest of the cuts Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has sought to make to the federal workforce.https://t.co/VGlqGQnM7K pic.twitter.com/xNDlMczEsh
— Lower Main Street Neighbors (@MainStNeighbors) March 4, 2025
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the president's priorities in a statement, saying, "Rather than focusing on American families and kitchen table issues, President Trump's first month in office has focused on tax cuts for billionaires, paid for by the very people he promised to help."
The address comes amid significant foreign policy shifts, with Trump having frozen US military assistance to Ukraine following what AP described as "an explosive Oval Office meeting" with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The president is reportedly pressuring Ukraine to pursue peace talks with Russia.
In the Middle East, ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled, with Trump suggesting controversial approaches including "permanent displacement of Palestinian civilians" and American "takeover" of Gaza territory – positions that undermine longstanding US support for a two-state solution.
Economic uncertainty adds another dimension to the speech, as Trump implemented significant tariffs just hours before his address. A 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico took effect after midnight Tuesday, reportedly to address fentanyl trafficking, while tariffs on Chinese imports rose to 20%. These moves have already triggered retaliatory measures from trading partners.
First Lady Melania Trump will attend the address, having held her first solo public event of her husband's new term just Monday, advocating for legislation against revenge pornography. Her guests will include 15-year-old Elliston Berry, a victim of deepfake explicit imagery.
Republican lawmakers are also using their guest invitations to make political statements. Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa announced she would host Scott Root, whose daughter Sarah Root died in 2016 in a vehicle crash involving an undocumented immigrant.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is expected to attend alongside other senior administration officials as the president outlines his vision for continued policy changes, including efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and roll back accommodations for transgender individuals.
