President Donald Trump, flanked by Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, at his 2025 joint address to Congress. Trump returns today for his State of the Union
Photo by Win McNamee / POOL / AFP
When President Donald Trump speaks to Congress, it’s usually to tell them what he’s going to do, not ask for permission.
Still, when the president gives his State of the Union speech tonight, lawmakers have a lot to listen for. Trump will speak as he moves toward a military clash with Iran, a partial shutdown continues, his tariff regime sits in disarray, and his poll numbers fall.
Here are some of the issues Congress will be watching:
Iran: Trump appears poised to take another military action without approval from lawmakers. Will he offer any details on his vague rationale ...