President Donald Trump is set to deliver a joint address to Congress on Tuesday night, marking the first such address of his second term in office. This annual event, akin to the State of the Union, will be broadcast live on television. The tradition of a joint address to Congress traces back to President Ronald Reagan's first term.
As per the U.S. Constitution, the president is mandated to update Congress and propose policies, although the exact timing of this address is not specified. Typically held in January or February, these remarks serve to reflect on the previous year's events and outline policy priorities for the upcoming year. Previously known as the “President’s Annual Message to Congress,” it was renamed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934 as the “Annual Message to Congress on the State of the Union.”
President Reagan's first-term address in 1981, titled “Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the Program for Economic Recovery,” set the precedent for subsequent administrations. Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton also delivered similar messages in their initial years in office, focusing on “Administration Goals.” President George W. Bush's 2001 speech was titled “Budget Message.”
According to the American Presidency Project, these inaugural-year speeches hold significant weight, akin to subsequent State of the Union addresses. Following tradition, the opposing party to the president delivers a televised response. This year, Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan will provide the rebuttal.
These joint addresses to Congress serve as a crucial platform for presidents to communicate their vision and policy objectives to the nation, setting the tone for the year ahead. The event underscores the constitutional requirement for the president to engage with Congress and the American public on key issues facing the country.
