What to know about the 2026 State of the Union:
- President Trump is delivering the 2026 State of the Union address at the Capitol on Tuesday night, where he is touting his first year back in office and laying out the Republican agenda heading into the midterm elections.
- “Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages,” the president said to open his speech. “We will never go back to where we were just a short time ago.”
- The economy and affordability remain top of mind for voters. Most say they want to hear about economic-focused topics like the cost of living, according to a new CBS News poll.
- You can watch the speech live on CBS News in the player at the top of this page, or on the CBS News app. Follow along below for live updates. CBS News is fact-checking the president’s State of the Union here.
Trump honors National Guard members who were shot in D.C.
The president took a moment to honor Sarah Beckstrom, the 20-year-old West Virginia Army National Guard specialist who was shot and killed protecting D.C. in November. The president recognized her parents in the audience.
“After a four-month deployment, she voluntarily extended her service and her rank was going to be lifted,” the president said. “She was doing so well, they were so proud of her. But the very next day she was on patrol near the White House when she was ambushed and shot in the head by a terrorist monster from Afghanistan. Shouldn’t have been in our country. And all because she wore the uniform of our nation, she was shot.”
National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was also shot that day and was critically injured.
“The doctors thought that Andrew was gone, but his mother said, ‘No, no, Mr. President, Andrew will be fine,” Mr. Trump said. “He’s going to make it.”
Wolfe was greeted with a standing ovation from many in the audience.
“With God’s help, Andrew has battled back from the edge of death,” the president said, before announcing that Wolfe would be awarded the Purple Heart. A military official pinned the medal on his lapel.
Trump says “we’re working hard” to end war in Ukraine
The president said his administration is “working hard” to end “the killing and slaughter between Russia and Ukraine, where 25,000 soldiers are dying each and every month.”
Mr. Trump called it “a war which would have never happened if I were president.”
Feb. 24 marked four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The president touted ending eight wars in his first 10 months in office.
“As president, I will make peace wherever I can,” he said. “But I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must.”
By Kaia Hubbard
Tempers rise in House chamber over immigration and “war on fraud”
Perhaps the ugliest moments of the night so far came as Mr. Trump discussed his ongoing push to remove undocumented immigrants and his new “war on fraud,” pronouncements sparking fury among a handful of the most liberal of Democratic lawmakers.
When he mentioned ongoing removal operations, Democratic Rep. Norma Torres of California held up a double-sided placard with the photos of Renee Good and Alex Pretti with the words, “Premeditated Murder” underneath their face and names. Good and Pretti were killed by federal immigration agents during the “Metro Surge” operations in Minneapolis earlier this year.
When Mr. Trump called out alleged fraud in Minnesota’s Somali-American communities, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota shouted, “That’s a lie! You’re a liar!”
And the shouting continued later as Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan shouted “You’re killing Americans!” or, “You have killed Americans!” or, “You’re shooting Americans!” as congressional Republicans bellowed in support of the president’s immigration policies.
As the Republican applause continued, the president stared in their direction, with a disgusted look on his face. Most other Democrats sat stone-faced but were clearly upset and annoyed.
By Ed O’Keefe
Trump urges passage of SAVE America Act
The president called on Congress to pass an elections-related bill known as the SAVE America Act. Democrats have widely opposed it, warning that it could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters.
The legislation would require Americans to show proof of citizenship in person to register to vote in federal elections, and implement photo ID requirements for voting.
“I’m asking you to approve the SAVE America Act,” Mr. Trump said to raucous applause from Republicans.
Mr. Trump claimed “cheating is rampant in our elections.” He said the bill is “very simple,” outlining that it requires voters to show ID and proof of citizenship.
Earlier iterations of the measure have passed the House. But the bill’s passage in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to advance most legislation, is unlikely.
The president appealed to Senate Majority Leader John Thune in his address. Mr. Trump claimed Democrats don’t want to pass the legislation because they want to cheat in elections.
“We have to stop it, John,” Mr. Trump said.
By Kaia Hubbard
Trump speaks over Democrats protesting parts of his speech about illegal immigrants
The president asked members of Congress to stand if they agree with his statement that the first duty of the U.S. government is to protect American citizens, not those in the country illegally.
Republicans stood and applauded, while Democrats generally did not. Mr. Trump said people who didn’t stand should be “ashamed” of themselves.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up,” he said.
As he continued to speak, some Democrats in the audience interjected, and the president continued to speak over them. Johnson stood, adjusting his mic in case he decided to intervene. Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Pramila Jayapal of Washington were among those who spoke out.
Trump calls on lawmakers to pass bill to limit congressional stock trading
Mr. Trump called on Congress to pass the Stop Insider Trading Act “without delay.” The bill is sponsored by Republican Rep. Brian Steil of Wisconsin.
“Let’s also ensure that members of Congress cannot corruptly profit from using insider information,” Mr. Trump said.
“They stood up, I can’t believe it,” Mr. Trump said as he received applause from some Democrats. “Did Nancy Pelosi stand up, if she’s here? Doubt it.”
There’s bipartisan support in Congress to set additional limits on congressional stock trading, but debate over how far to go with the restrictions has delayed other legislation on the topic.
Trump demands “full and immediate restoration” of DHS funds to end partial shutdown
The president criticized Democrats for their opposition to DHS funding without immigration enforcement reforms.
“As we speak, Democrats in this chamber have cut off all funding for the Department of Homeland Security,” Mr. Trump said. “They have instituted another Democrat shutdown, the first one costing us a 2 points on GDP.”
DHS has been shut down since Feb. 14 as Democrats and the White House negotiate a possible deal to reform ICE and CBP.
Mr. Trump said Democrats have “closed the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers.”
“Tonight, I am demanding the full and immediate restoration of all funding for the border security and homeland security of the United States, and also for helping people clean up their snow,” he said.
By Kaia Hubbard
Trump says Vance will lead “war on fraud,” blasts Somalis and “unrestricted immigration”
The president blasted blue states and insisted many are rampant with fraud and corruption. He said “members of the Somali community have pillaged” what belongs to U.S. taxpayers in Minnesota.
Mr. Trump announced that Vice President JD Vance will lead a “war on fraud” and “get it done.”
“If we’re able to find enough of that fraud, we will actually have a balanced budget overnight,” he said. “It’ll go very quickly.”
“The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception,” he said. “Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings those problems right here to the USA.”
Trump says private sector employees will have access to federal retirement plans
Mr. Trump announced that nongovernment workers who do not have retirement plans with matching contributions from their employer will have the option beginning next year to contribute to plans that federal workers have, with a contribution from the federal government.
“I’m announcing that next year, my administration will give these often forgotten American workers — great people, the people that built our country — access to the same type of retirement plan offered to every federal worker. We will match your contribution with up to $1,000 each year.”
Mr. Trump called it a “gross disparity.”
Trump calls on Congress to ban corporations from purchasing single-family homes
The president called on Congress to ban institutional investors from buying single-family homes. Last month, he issued an executive order urging agencies to avoid supporting such purchases.
“We want homes for people, not for corporations,” he said. “Corporations are doing just fine.”
Trump announces data center energy deal
The president announced his administration has made agreements with major tech companies that will allow them to construct power plants for data centers that power artificial intelligence, with the goal of avoiding price spikes for electricity in surrounding communities.
“Many Americans are also concerned that energy demand from AI data centers could unfairly drive up their electric utility bills,” Mr. Trump said. “Tonight, I’m pleased to announce that I have negotiated the new ‘rate payer protection pledge.'”
The president said “we’re telling the major tech companies that they have the obligation to provide for their own power needs” so that “no one’s prices will go up.”
“This is a unique strategy never used in this country before,” Mr. Trump said. “We have an old grid — it could never handle the kind of numbers, the amount of electricity that’s needed. So I’m telling them they can build their own plant, they’ve got to produce their own electricity.”
By Kathryn Watson, Caitlin Yilek
Trump reiterates health care pitch, highlights moves to cut cost of prescription drugs
The president reiterated his “Great Health Care Plan,” his administration’s pitch to help lower health care costs, which he announced last month. Some parts of the plan the administration has already tried to implement. He has repeatedly said he wants money to go straight to patients to use, rather than to insurance companies.
“I want to stop all payments to big insurance companies and instead, give that money directly to the people,” he said.
He also called for maximum price transparency from health care providers.
Mr. Trump also touted his administration’s work to bring down the cost of a number of prescription drugs, including for in vitro fertilization or IVF. The president introduced a couple whose IVF drugs cost thousands of dollars less than they would have before as a part of the president’s efforts to lower IVF drug prices.
The president said other presidents were “all talk” and “no action” on lowering drug prices.
Mr. Trump highlighted agreements with drug companies to consider the U.S. a “most-favored nation” and provide drugs at lower prices. The president called on Congress to codify his most-favored nation program.
Trump credits tariffs for “stunning economic turnaround,” calls Supreme Court ruling “very unfortunate”
The president credited his tariffs for what he called a “stunning economic turnaround,” and called the Supreme Court’s ruling striking many of them down as “very unfortunate” as four of the justices sat in front of him.
“But the good news is that almost all countries and corporations want to keep the deal that they already made,” Mr. Trump said, “knowing that the legal power that I, as president, have to make a new deal could be far worse for them, and therefore they will continue to work along the same successful path that we had negotiated before the Supreme Court’s unfortunate involvement.”
The Supreme Court ruled on Feb. 20 that most of Mr. Trump’s tariffs are illegal, meaning he does not have the authority to unilaterally impose sweeping global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
In a news conference after the ruling, Mr. Trump said he was “absolutely ashamed” of the justices who ruled against one of his signature economic policies. Mr. Trump then invoked a 1974 law to announce a new 10% tax on most imports into the U.S., which he later said he would raise to 15%. The move could also face legal challenges.
But Mr. Trump said Tuesday that the new solution “will be even stronger than before” and said “congressional action will not be necessary.”
He said he expects that tariffs will “substantially replace the modern-day system of income tax.”
Trump on Iran: “We’ll find out”
Robert Costa, CBS News chief Washington analyst and national correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning,” briefly spoke with the president ahead of the speech by phone.
The president was upbeat, Costa reports. The president acknowledged the world is wondering what he will do regarding Iran, but did not signal whether he has decided how to proceed or whether he will move forward with any potential strikes. “We’ll find out,” he said.
Mr. Trump also said that he plans to talk about his efforts to bring prices down and his view on the Biden administration’s record, which he criticized. Mr. Trump added that he will address immigration, where he said he is doing a “great job” in his push to secure the border.
By Robert Costa
Trump lauds One Big Beautiful Bill Act
The president praised congressional Republicans, who he said “delivered so beautifully” on his One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the signature legislation of his second term agenda.
Mr. Trump derided Democrats for voting against the bill. He said “all Democrats, every single one of them, voted against these really important and very necessary, massive tax cuts.”
“They wanted large-scale tax increases to hurt the people instead,” the president said. “But we held strong and with the great big beautiful bill, we gave you no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and no tax on Social Security for our great seniors.”
The legislation made its way through Congress and onto the president’s desk in July 2025.
By Kaia Hubbard
Trump welcomes U.S. men’s hockey team, says goalie will receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
The president took time to point out members of the U.S. men’s hockey team, who just won gold in the Olympics. The team members, who were at the White House earlier in the day, entered through the House press gallery above the dais, holding up their medals.
The audience erupted in cheers, with members of both parties and guests in the gallery standing to applaud for several minutes.
Then, Mr. Trump announced he will be awarding Connor Hellebuyck, the team’s goalie, the highest civilian honor — the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Hellebuyck made 41 saves in the gold-winning game against Canada.
The audience again offered applause and cheers.
Trump: “We ended DEI in America”
Mr. Trump touted the dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, saying “we ended DEI in America.”
Through executive orders, the president has sought to eliminate DEI programs in the federal government and private sector during his second term.
Trump claims low interest rates will solve issue of home prices
The president insisted that bringing down interest rates for home buyers will help the cost of housing.
“Low interest rates will solve the Biden-created housing problem while at the same time protecting the values of those people who already own a house that really feel rich for the first time in their lives,” he said. “We want to protect those values, we want to keep those values up. We’re going to do both.”
Trump touts immigration crackdown, other accomplishments in first year
The president touted his work during his first year back in office, saying “our border is secure, our spirit is restored, inflation is plummeting, incomes are rising fast, the roaring economy is roaring like never before, and our enemies are scared.”
Mr. Trump said “America is respected again perhaps like never before.”
The president went on to highlight his immigration crackdown, touting the “most secure border in American history by far.” He praised the effort to stop the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and lower the murder rate.
By Kaia Hubbard
“This is the golden age of America,” Trump says
The president insisted the country is only going to continue to do “better and better.”
“We’re going to do better and better and better,” he said. “This is the golden age of America.”
Mr. Trump said that in one year, he has created a “turnaround for the ages,” without yet naming former President Joe Biden.
“We will never go back to where we were just a very short time ago,” he said.
Al Green escorted from chamber after holding up sign saying “Black people aren’t apes!”
As Mr. Trump entered the chamber, Democratic Rep. Al Greene of Texas held up a sign that read, “Black people aren’t apes!”
Green continued holding up the sign as Mr. Trump began his address. He was soon escorted from the chamber as the president continued his speech.
Green was censured last year by his House colleagues for yelling during Mr. Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.
Earlier this month, the president shared a video that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. A White House official said a staffer “erroneously made the post,” which was later taken down. Mr. Trump said he hadn’t seen the portion of the video that became the source of controversy.
Trump begins speaking to chants of “USA”
The president began speaking at 9:11 p.m. ET as he was cheered by Republicans, with shouts of “USA” ringing out throughout the chamber.
Mr. Trump acknowledged Johnson, Vance and the first lady to kick off his remarks.
By Kaia Hubbard
Trump enters chamber, greets GOP lawmakers
The president entered the chamber at 9:06 p.m., to rounds of applause and cheers. He greeted members of the House and Senate as he entered, shaking hands and taking selfies with GOP lawmakers who lined the aisle.
He shook the hands of the four Supreme Court justices in attendance and the Joint Chiefs of Staff before stepping onto the dais and waving at the crowd.
Trump’s Cabinet enters the chamber
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Attorney General Pam Bondi and other members of Mr. Trump’s Cabinet have entered the House chamber.
They shook hands with lawmakers and greeted the Supreme Court justices as they made their way to their seats at the front.
By Kaia Hubbard
Entire Trump family expected to be in attendance
All of the president’s five children are expected to be in attendance Tuesday night, in addition to their spouses and partners.
By Kristin Brown
4 Supreme Court justices attending State of the Union
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett are attending the president’s speech and just entered the chamber.
The group is the same as last year, though the justices were also joined then by retired Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Sonya Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson are not in attendance.
Mr. Trump’s address comes just days after the high court struck down his sweeping global tariffs. The president has lashed out at the justices who ruled against him in recent days, including three conservatives who were in the majority — Roberts, Gorsuch and Barrett.
By Kaia Hubbard
Johnson calls joint session of Congress to order
House Speaker Mike Johnson called the joint session of Congress to order ahead of Mr. Trump’s arrival. He listed the names of House members selected to escort the president into the chamber.
Vice President JD Vance, acting as president of the Senate, then listed the names of the senators selected to escort the president.
Johnson directed the members to exit the chamber.
By Kaia Hubbard
Why some Democratic congresswomen are wearing white
Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus again made a sartorial political statement by wearing white.
Democratic congresswomen have used fashion as a form of protest against Mr. Trump since his first address to a joint session of Congress in 2017, then donning suffragist white in support of women’s rights.
In the years since, they’ve mostly stuck with that choice, with the exception of 2018, when some wore black in support of the #MeToo movement. They also broke tradition during last year’s speech, which wasn’t technically a State of the Union, wearing pink to highlight their opposition to Mr. Trump’s policies.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico, who leads the 96-member Democratic Women’s Caucus but skipped the speech, told CBS News that the color choice “depends on where we’re at in the moment.”
“This year, there are specific attacks on women’s ability to vote,” she said. “The Democratic Women’s Caucus is wearing white both to honor that fight that women have always had and to signal we are still in the fight.”
Read more here.
Trump arrives at Capitol
The president’s motorcade arrived at the Capitol at 8:41 p.m. after the short drive down Pennsylvania Avenue.
Members of the House and Senate have been mingling in the House chamber and claiming their seats in anticipation of the speech. Vice President JD Vance and congressional leaders arrived in the chamber and greeted lawmakers along the aisle.
Trump, first lady leave White House for the Capitol
The president and first lady Melania Trump left the White House and entered his limousine shortly after 8:30 p.m. for the short ride to the Capitol. The speech is set to begin at 9 p.m.
White House releases excerpts from Trump’s speech
The White House has released excerpts from the president’s prepared remarks:
- “Tonight, after just one year, I can say with dignity and pride that we have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a turnaround for the ages. We will never go back to where we were just a short time ago.”
- “From 1776 to today, every generation of Americans has stepped forward to defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for the next. Now, it is our turn. Together, we are building a nation where every child has the chance to reach higher and go farther — where government answers to the people, not the powerful — and where the interests of hardworking American Citizens are always our first and ultimate concern.”
- “Moving forward, factories, jobs, investment, and trillions of dollars will continue pouring into the United States of America — because we finally have a president who puts America First.”
- “For decades before I came along, we had the exact opposite. From trade to healthcare, from energy to immigration, everything was stolen and rigged in order to drain the wealth out of the productive, hardworking people who make our country run.”
- “I am also ending the wildly inflated cost of prescription drugs. Other presidents tried to do it, but they never could. They were all talk and no action. I got it done.”
- “Last month, I signed an Executive Order to ban large Wall Street investment firms from buying up, in the thousands, single-family homes. And now I am asking Congress to make that ban permanent, because homes are for people, not corporations.”
- “But when it comes to the corruption that is plundering America, there has been no more stunning example than Minnesota — where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion dollars from the American taxpayer.”
- “As we speak, Democrats in this chamber have cut off all funding for the Department of Homeland Security. They have closed the agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorists and murderers. Tonight, I am demanding the full and immediate restoration of all funding for the Border Security and Homeland Security of the United States.”
- “Above all, unleashing America’s promise requires keeping our communities safe. We have made incredible strides — yet dangerous repeat offenders continue to be released by pro-crime politicians again and again.”
- “As President, I will make peace wherever I can — but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must.”
- “We are also restoring American security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere — acting to secure our national interests and defend our country from violence, drugs, terrorism, and foreign interference. For years, large swaths of territory in our region, including large parts of Mexico, have been controlled by murderous drug cartels.”
- “The Revolution that began in 1776 has not ended — it still continues, because the flame of Liberty and Independence still burns in the hearts of every American Patriot.”
By Weijia Jiang
U.S. men’s hockey team to attend speech as Trump’s guests
The gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team will be the president’s guests at the State of the Union. Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal, was seen entering Statuary Hall with his medal ahead of the speech.
The team appeared with the president in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon. Dan Scavino, assistant to the president, said on X that the team’s “next stop” is the speech. House Speaker Mike Johnson also said earlier in the day that the team would be there.
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Top lawmakers briefed on Iran ahead of State of the Union
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefed the Gang of Eight on Iran hours before Mr. Trump’s address, in which the president could argue his case for potential strikes on the U.S. adversary. The Gang of Eight includes leaders in both chambers, as well as the top Republicans and Democrats on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees.
Last week, Mr. Trump called for a “meaningful deal” with Iran, warning “bad things will happen” without one. He also said that Iran has 10 to 15 days to make a deal and that he was considering a limited military strike.
“This is serious, and the administration has to make its case to the American people,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, told reporters after the briefing.
Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, also urged the president to explain to the public why an attack against Iran is necessary.
“I think it is incumbent upon the president to make the case — what our country’s goals are, what our country’s interests are and how we’re going to protect American interests in the region. Maybe we’ll hear that tonight, but if we don’t hear it tonight, we need to hear it very, very, very soon,” Warner said.
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky plan to force a vote on a war powers resolution next week. Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia has also said he will bring up a similar resolution in the Senate to limit military action against Iran without congressional approval.
By Caitlin Yilek, Ibrahim Aksoy
Democrats make statements with State of the Union guests
Congressional Democrats are attempting to make a statement with the guests they’ve invited to attend the State of the Union tonight.
From survivors of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse to individuals impacted by the administration’s immigration crackdown or expired Affordable Care Act tax credits, a number of lawmakers are pushing to put some of the most contentious issues front and center.
Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of California, who has led Democrats as they pushed for the release of the Epstein files on the House Oversight Committee, told reporters he’s bringing survivor Annie Farmer. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is bringing another survivor, Dani Bensky, along with Raiza Contreras, a mother whose son he said was detained by ICE. Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois is bringing Jeremy Schumacher, who said his health insurance costs have quadrupled over the last two months.
The approach comes as Democrats are taking a different approach during the address. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has encouraged Democrats to remain quiet during the speech or opt not to attend at all. Last year, Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas was admonished by Republicans for standing up and shouting during Mr. Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.
By Kaia Hubbard
How long will Trump’s speech run?
The White House has not provided an estimated running time ahead of the address, but on Monday, Mr. Trump told reporters, “It’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about.”
Here is a breakdown of how long each of his previous years’ addresses have lasted, according to data compiled by The American Presidency Project:
- 2017: 1 hour
- 2018: 1 hour and 21 minutes
- 2019: 1 hour and 22 minutes
- 2020: 1 hour and 18 minutes
- 2025: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Mr. Trump’s 2025 address was the longest presidential address to a joint session of Congress since at least 1964.
Trump plans to award Medal of Honor at State of the Union
The president is planning to honor a 100-year-old veteran Tuesday night by awarding E. Royce Williams the Medal of Honor for his actions in a secret mission during the Korean War, sources with knowledge of the matter told CBS News.
This would mark the first time that a president has awarded the medal, the U.S. military’s highest honor for valor in combat, during a State of the Union address.
White House spokespeople didn’t respond to requests for comment. The plan, which has not previously been reported, could change.
Williams, a retired Navy captain, was part of the longest aerial engagement in U.S. Navy history when he fought seven Soviet MiG fighter jets, shooting down four, during a half-hour dogfight in 1952.
Read more here.
By James LaPorta, Jennifer Jacobs
Johnson says it’s “detestable” that some Democrats are boycotting State of the Union
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he thinks it’s “detestable” that some Democrats are boycotting the State of the Union.
“I think it’s detestable that members would boycott the speech,” Johnson told “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil in an exclusive interview ahead of the speech. “We’ve never done that. It doesn’t matter if there’s a Democrat president, you go and respect the office, you respect the decorum, the institution, the tradition of having had this speech made.”
Johnson called it “sad” that some Democrats are “choosing to opt out of that.”
DHS shutdown hangs over State of the Union
Mr. Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress comes as lawmakers have been unable to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
Speculation swirled in recent days over whether the speech would be canceled amid the partial shutdown. But Mr. Trump has moved ahead as planned.
The Senate failed to advance a measure to fund DHS on Tuesday evening, when all but one Democrat in attendance opposed moving forward with the bill. Democrats have pledged to oppose any funding for DHS, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, unless they secure reforms to the immigration enforcement agencies.
Democrats and the White House have been trading proposals for reforms in recent days. But the two sides appeared far apart heading into the State of the Union. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claimed Tuesday that the White House and Republicans “have not budged on the key issues.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune questioned whether Democrats are “actually interested in a solution.”
DHS, which has been shut down since Feb. 14, also oversees the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard. Workers who continue to perform their jobs during the partial shutdown are expected to begin missing paychecks in the coming days.
By Kaia Hubbard
Kevin McCarthy says Gonzales should resign over alleged affair with late staffer
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told CBS News on Tuesday that Rep. Tony Gonzales should resign, after a set of newly revealed text messages drew fresh scrutiny to an alleged affair between the Texas Republican and a staffer who later died by suicide.
“If this was in a business, he would’ve been fired,” McCarthy, a California Republican, said on “The Takeout with Major Garrett.”
McCarthy pointed to a May 2024 text exchange between Gonzales and the staffer, Regina Santos-Aviles, that was obtained by CBS News and other media outlets this week. In the exchange, Gonzales encouraged Santos-Aviles to send him a “sexy pic” and asked her sexual questions. She responded at one point: “This is going too far boss.”
Santos-Aviles died one day after setting herself on fire in September 2025. She was married with an 8-year-old son.
Asked by reporters about the texts on Tuesday, the congressman said he will not resign, adding, “What you’ve seen are not all the facts.” In the past, Gonzales has denied having an affair.
McCarthy said, “It’s devastating what has transpired here.”
Read more here.
By Joe Walsh
House Speaker Mike Johnson calls for “patience” on economy: “You don’t flip a switch”
House Speaker Mike Johnson told CBS News the U.S. economy is on the right track — but he added that inflation has not been “completely fixed yet.”
In an interview Tuesday with “CBS Evening News,” Johnson also argued “we shouldn’t freak out” about the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and urged the Iranian government to “follow common sense” as Mr. Trump weighs military action.
Johnson expects Mr. Trump to spend part of his speech Tuesday night touting his economic record, including “the exciting facts about what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
In recent months, the president has celebrated the country’s economic performance in his first year on the job, including a slowdown in inflation and a strong labor market.
Read highlights from the interview here.
By Joe Walsh
CBS News poll: Most want to hear about economy, say administration hasn’t explained Iran policy
Asked how they’d describe the state of the country if they could give the address tonight, most Americans would use the word “divided.”
It’s a belief about division that has spanned administrations — before Joe Biden’s last State of the Union, most described the nation as “divided” too. And even more do now.
“Divided” far outpaces other descriptors like “strong” or “prospering,” though each of those is a bit higher now than in 2024 under Biden, too.
But Democrats and Republicans alike want to hear the president talk about the economy and the cost of living.
Most still call the economy bad — as they have for years, going back to the pandemic — but views are relatively improved of late, and off the lows for this term from last fall.
The way in which the president talks about that may be critical now: going into the State of the Union address, most Americans think Mr. Trump makes the situation with prices and inflation sound better than it really is.
There’s also a big majority that say he hasn’t explained potential military action against Iran.
Read more about the new CBS News poll here.
By Anthony Salvanto, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus, Kabir Khanna
Trump to call for more tax cuts in speech
The president will call for additional tax cuts in his speech tonight — both corporate and personal, but mostly personal, he told a group of news anchors at a lunch he hosted Tuesday.
The president is also expected to make other economic-related announcements tonight.
With a slim Republican majority in the House and the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, getting additional tax cuts through Congress would be an uphill battle before the midterm elections.
The president will also announce a “rate-payer protection plan,” which includes deals with AI and tech companies to cover increased electricity costs for residential customers near data centers.
By Tony Dokoupil, Margaret Brennan
Johnson will use George Washington’s gavel
On Tuesday night, House Speaker Mike Johnson will wield the gavel used by George Washington to lay the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol building in 1793, according to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. The gavel is housed in the oldest Masonic lodge in Washington.
Its use is meant to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“Complementing the State of the Union with George Washington’s Gavel beautifully reflects the importance of preserving and sharing the Capitol’s history; helping Americans connect with the people, places, and traditions that continue to shape our nation,” said Roswell Encina, president and CEO of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. “A significant part of the society’s mission is to bring Congress to the People.”
How to watch the 2026 State of the Union address on TV and streaming
CBS News will have live coverage of the State of the Union address and the Democratic response on TV, streaming and online.
- What: President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address
- Date: Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026
- Time: Address scheduled for 9 p.m. ET; special coverage on CBS News 24/7 begins at 8 p.m. ET
- Location: The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
- On TV: CBS television stations (find your local station here)
- Live Streaming: Watch wherever the CBS News 24/7 streaming network is distributed, including the CBS News app, CBSNews.com, YouTube, social platforms, Paramount+ and Pluto.
