When former President Donald Trump walks into the Capitol on Tuesday to deliver his much-anticipated speech, it may look and sound like a classic State of the Union address. But technically, it won’t be. And that distinction, while subtle, is steeped in tradition and history.
So, Why Isn’t It a State of the Union?
If it looks like a State of the Union, sounds like a State of the Union, and even follows a similar format—why isn’t it officially one? Well, it all comes down to historical precedent.
While the U.S. Constitution (Article II) mandates that the President must periodically inform Congress about the “State of the Union,” it doesn’t specify how or when it should be done. In fact, from 1801 to 1913, Presidents didn’t even deliver the address in person! Instead, they simply sent a formal written letter to Congress. It wasn’t until 1913 that President Woodrow Wilson revived the tradition—originally started by George Washington in 1790—of giving the speech in person.
Fast forward a few decades, and it was President Franklin D. Roosevelt who made the term “State of the Union” stick. Prior to his administration, it was simply called the “Annual Message.” But Roosevelt, always one to understand the power of branding, used the phrase “State of the Union” in both his reports and the event itself, making it the official title from his presidency onward. And here’s another interesting fact: the first televised State of the Union happened in 1947, during Harry Truman’s presidency.
The Unique Timing of an Inauguration Year
But here’s where things get tricky: what happens when a new President is just settling into office? Historically, there’s been some debate about who should give the report in an inauguration year—the outgoing President or the incoming one.
Before the 20th Amendment was ratified in 1933, Presidents were sworn in on March 4, and Congress convened in December. This meant that the outgoing President usually delivered the annual address. But after the amendment, which moved the presidential inauguration to January 20 and Congress’s first session to January 3, a new question emerged: should the new President deliver the address or skip it altogether?
Some Presidents have opted out, choosing not to deliver a State of the Union in their inaugural year. But not everyone has followed that path. In 1981, for instance, outgoing President Jimmy Carter sent a written message to Congress on January 16, while newly inaugurated President Ronald Reagan gave an in-person speech on February 18. However, Reagan set a new precedent—he made it clear that his speech wasn’t a formal State of the Union, but rather an address on his legislative agenda.
Since then, Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden have all followed the same tradition. Each of them delivered a speech before a joint session of Congress soon after taking office, but none of them officially called it a “State of the Union.” Instead, they used different names—Reagan called his an “Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the Program for Economic Recovery,” while others, including the Bushes and Clinton, referred to theirs as “Addresses on Administration Goals.” More recently, Obama, Trump, and Biden kept it simple, naming their speeches “Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress.”
Does the Name Even Matter?
Despite the technicalities, the American Presidency Project points out that whether or not a speech is officially labeled as a “State of the Union” doesn’t really change its impact. The public, media, and lawmakers still view it as a major presidential moment—a time to set the agenda, rally support, and make a powerful statement.
Trump, never one to shy away from a big stage, is expected to take full advantage of this opportunity. He has already built anticipation, posting on Truth Social: “TOMORROW NIGHT WILL BE BIG. I WILL TELL IT LIKE IT IS!” Given his track record, his address will likely be bold, headline-grabbing, and full of the fiery rhetoric his supporters love.
A Speech That Could Reshape the Political Landscape
This speech isn’t just another political event—it’s a pivotal moment in Trump’s second term. The first six weeks of his return to the White House have already sent shockwaves through Washington and beyond. Now, as he stands before Congress, he’ll have the chance to outline his vision for the months and years ahead.
Will he focus on economic recovery? Immigration policies? National security? The future of healthcare? All eyes will be on him as he lays out his priorities.
Regardless of what he says, one thing is for certain: Trump knows how to command attention. And whether it’s officially a State of the Union or not, his address will be one of the most closely watched speeches of the year.
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