Trump Prepares for a Lengthy State of the Union Speech

The president has confirmed that his forthcoming address will be “long”, citing a substantial amount of material to cover.

Preparation Details

• Rehearsals: Spent the weekend with a tight circle of advisers, concentrating on the logistics of the House chamber rather than reciting the text.
• Timing: The speech arrives amid a tense political climate:
• Falling approval ratings
• Republicans fearing a loss of Congressional control
• A Supreme Court strike-down of a tariff he signed
• Ongoing military options deliberation against Iran

Event Highlights

• Lunch with Media: Trump will host a traditional lunch featuring anchors from NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, and CNN, alongside guests from newer media outlets. The anchors’ identities remain undisclosed.
• Tone Setting: This gathering is expected to set the tone for his remarks.

Key Personnel

• Speech Drafting: Ross Worthington, author of many prior State of the Union speeches.
• Aides Involved:
• Chief of Staff: Susie Wiles
• Policy Deputy: Stephen Miller
• Press Secretary: Karoline Leavitt
• Communications Director: Steven Cheung
• Domestic Policy Director: Vince Haley

Additional Note

A photo shared by aide Dan Scavino shows Trump speaking to the U.S. men’s hockey team following their Olympic gold win, inviting them to attend the speech and coordinating logistics through FBI director Kash Patel.