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As President Trump prepares for his State of the Union address on Tuesday, he faces significant challenges, including a recent Supreme Court decision that undermined his tariff strategy, declining approval ratings, and rising tensions with Iran.
The address promises to be tense, especially as Trump confronts the justices who ruled against his use of emergency powers to impose tariffs. This includes two justices he appointed, as well as others he criticized over the weekend on social media.
Adding to his woes, Trump’s approval ratings have dropped by 12 points compared to last year’s joint address. Many voters are expressing their dissatisfaction with the current economic situation, which could complicate his message on progress and prosperity.
In the backdrop, there’s growing speculation about a potential military strike against Iran. The administration is in ongoing discussions with Tehran concerning its nuclear program, all while increasing U.S. military forces in the Middle East, raising the stakes in an already volatile region.
Hinting at a wide-ranging address, Trump told a White House audience on Monday that he intends to tackle numerous topics during his speech in the House chamber, leaving many curious about how he will navigate these pressing issues.
“I’m going to be making a speech tomorrow night, and it’s going to be a long one because we have so much to talk about,” Trump said.
The president will be going before a joint session of Congress with polls showing Americans disapprove of him and his administration’s policies.
A CNN poll released Monday found that 68 percent of respondents said Trump “hasn’t paid enough attention to the country’s most important problems,” while 32 percent said he “has had the right priorities.”
The same poll shows Trump’s approval rating at 38 percent, down 10 points from last year before his first joint address to Congress in his second term.
Meanwhile, a Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll released Sunday found 60 percent of respondents said they disapproved of the job Trump is doing ahead of the State of the Union.
Strategists point out that Trump must sell his agenda — especially on the economy, where he has struggled to nail down a solid message on affordability, at times calling it a hoax.
“His top priority is to remind the American people of the accomplishments of the first year of his administration, particularly when it comes to the economy, stabilizing inflation, and tick off down the list of affordability,” said Republican strategist Ford O’Connell, referring to the administration’s efforts to bring down the prices of prescription drugs, housing and gas.
While Trump has begun making this case publicly, polls suggest the message is not sinking in with voters ahead of the midterms.
The same Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll found 57 percent of respondents said they disapproved of the way Trump is handling the economy, while 65 percent said they disapproved of the way he is handling inflation. Sixty-four percent said they did not approve of the president’s handling of tariffs.
Republicans say the president needs to make the argument to voters that they need to stick with him and his allies on Capitol Hill as his economic policies start to kick in.
“Republicans are creating a clear contrast of where we were just a couple years ago under Joe Biden and Democrat control, to where we are now with Republicans delivering real relief where it counts,” said Mike Marinella, a spokesperson at the National Republican Congressional Committee.
How Trump addresses his move on tariffs in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision to strike down his emergency powers to impose tariffs will also be closely watched.
The president will come face-to-face with the justices who ruled against him on the issue, including conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts. The court has not yet said which justices plan to attend.
While Trump and his allies have given hints that the economy will play a prominent role in the speech, it will be difficult for the president to ignore foreign policy. Questions loom about whether the president will strike Iran as administration officials also try to reach a diplomatic deal to curb the country’s nuclear program. His address will also come four years to the day of the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a war he has struggled to contain.
The address also gives Trump an opportunity to address U.S. involvement in Mexican operations to oust a powerful drug lord in the country, which prompted the State Department to urge Americans in the country to shelter in place in various Mexican countries.
“Like most presidents, I think foreign policy is just going to keep tugging him back,” said one unnamed Republican strategist, adding that foreign policy and the economy are not mutually exclusive.