Why this speech is not a “State of the Union”
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The Charter says the president shall, “every so often,” give a file at the “State of the Union” to Congress. This speech in most cases takes position in January or February, and offers presidents the chance to tout their accomplishments over the last 12 months and lay out their time table for the months forward.
Since Mr. Trump has best been in place of business for 6 weeks and an afternoon, his handle isn’t technically regarded as a State of the Union. Reasonably, it is referred to as a joint handle to Congress. However it’s going to glance and sound similar to a State of the Union, with the president addressing lawmakers from the Space chamber, and Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance seated at the back of him.
Mr. Trump is anticipated to handle what he perspectives as his accomplishments up to now ahead of discussing the economic system, immigration and overseas coverage.
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin to deliver the Democratic response
Democratic leaders tapped Sen. Elissa Slotkin, the newly minted U.S. senator from Michigan, to deliver the party’s response. It’s tradition for a member of the opposing party to speak after the president, and the role is often given to someone the party wants to introduce to the country.
The assignment may seem simple enough, but even minor slip-ups, like then-Sen. Marco Rubio pausing to drink from a water bottle in 2013 or Rep. Joe Kennedy exhibiting an unusually moist upper lip in 2018, can instantly become the subject of political jokes.
Slotkin, 48, won her seat against former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers in a state that flipped red for Mr. Trump in 2024. Democrats as a whole are continuing to examine the 2024 election and chart a path forward after losing the House, Senate and White House to the Republicans.
Slotkin was a U.S. congresswoman for Michigan’s 7th Congressional District for six years before she won her Senate seat.
A former CIA analyst who served alongside the military in Iraq, she has experience working under both parties. Slotkin worked on President George W. Bush’s National Security Council, as well as in the State Department during Barack Obama’s presidency.
Read more about Elissa Slotkin here.
Trump’s speech comes against backdrop of fallout with Ukraine
It’s only been four days since the heated, televised Oval Office meeting involving Mr. Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that upended relations between the U.S. and Ukraine.
On Friday, Zelenskyy’s team was told to leave the White House after the meeting grew contentious, with Vance calling Zelenskyy’s remarks “disrespectful” and Mr. Trump telling Zelenskyy he’s toying with “World War III.” The Trump administration wants Zelenskyy to pursue a ceasefire now, and paused military aid to the country on Monday. Mr. Trump has continued to criticize Zelenskyy since the confrontation, which scuttled the planned signing of an economic deal over Ukraine’s mineral rights.
Zelenskyy tried to right the ship earlier Tuesday, writing in a lengthy post on X that Ukraine is “ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible” to end the war.
“Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy said. “My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
CBS News reported earlier in the day that Ukrainian officials have indicated to their U.S. counterparts they are willing to sign the minerals agreement, but sources said a final deal has not been finalized. The arrangement would give the U.S.
