How to Watch Trump's State of the Union
How to Watch Trump's State of the Union
Connor GreeneMon, February 23, 2026 at 8:19 PM UTC
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President Donald J Trump walks in to address a joint session of Congress in the Capitol building's House chamber in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, March 04, 2025. Credit - Jabin Botsford—The Washington Post/Getty Images
President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver his first State of the Union address of his second term on Tuesday.
In the annual address, delivered before a joint session of Congress, the President traditionally gives remarks on the condition of the country and outlines legislative goals.
This year’s speech comes during an indefinite shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) caused by a standoff between Democrats and the White House over immigration enforcement. The dispute, which centers on Democrats’ demand for new restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following the fatal shootings of two Minneapolis residents by federal agents last month, has led to a funding lapse at agencies including the Transportation Security Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The President’s remarks also come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down his sweeping emergency tariffs, citing presidential overreach, and as Trump has said he is considering limited strikes against Iran ahead of negotiations between the two countries in Geneva on Thursday.
Read more: Trump to Deliver State of the Union Amid Low Polls and Deep Divisions
“The State of the Union is STRONG because America is safer. Thanks to President Trump, law & order is BACK,” the White House posted on X on Sunday. A video included in the post centered on Trump’s emphasis on safety and security, citing falling crime rates. Later the same day, the White House posted another video centered on Trump’s foreign policy moves, writing, “The State of the Union is STRONG because America is RESPECTED again on the world stage. Peace through strength.”
Many Democrats have pledged to boycott the speech on Tuesday and instead attend counterprogramming events, while others in the party are expected to walk out while Trump is speaking or demonstrate their opposition to the President in other ways during his address.
Here’s how you can watch the highly anticipated speech this year.
When is President Trump’s State of the Union Address?
Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 9 p.m. ET.
Where will the address take place?
Trump will deliver his State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
How can I watch the State of the Union address?
Coverage ahead of the President’s speech will be streamed on C-SPAN beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The speech itself is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.
Other news outlets including PBS, CBS, CNN, and FOX will provide live coverage of the speech.
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Where and when will the counterprogramming events take place?
At least 12 Democrats have pledged to attend a counterprogramming rally dubbed the “People’s State of the Union,” which will be held on the National Mall during the same time as Trump’s address.
Progressive media outlet MeidasTouch and left-wing advocacy group MoveOn are hosting the event, where Democratic lawmakers are scheduled to speak on stage alongside people who have been impacted by Trump’s policies, including immigrants and ex-federal workers.
The organizers plan to livestream the event beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Another counterprogramming event, called “State of the Swamp: The Rebuttal of the State of the Union,” will be held at the National Press Club starting at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
The event is set to feature appearances and remarks from Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Wyden and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as well as high-profile figures in politics, media, and entertainment, from actor Mark Ruffalo to politician and political organizer Stacey Abrams to former CNN host Don Lemon.
A livestream of the event will be available free to people who register, according to organizers.
How can I watch the Democratic and progressive responses to the speech?
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, the state’s first female governor and a vocal opponent of Trump, is set to deliver the Democratic rebuttal to the State of the Union immediately following Trump’s remarks on Tuesday.
Major news networks like ABC, NBC, and CNN will offer live coverage of Spanberger’s response. You can also watch her remarks online, as media outlets CNBC and PBS will offer livestreams.
Sen. Alex Padilla of California, the first Latino elected to represent the state in the upper chamber, will meanwhile deliver the party's Spanish-language response following Trump's speech.
Such rebuttals have previously aired on Spanish-language networks such as Telemundo and Univision.
Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, the first Black woman to represent the state in Congress, will also deliver a response to the speech, on behalf of the progressive Working Families Party.
The Working Families Party’s website will live stream Lee’s speech, which will also come “shortly” after Trump’s address, according to the group.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
