On March 4, 2025, President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. This marks the first such address of his second term in office and is similar to the traditional State of the Union address but has a different designation.
- Trump addresses Congress for second term.
- Joint address origins trace back to Reagan.
- Constitution mandates presidential updates to Congress.
- Historical context of annual messages explained.
- Opposing party delivers televised response speech.
- Senator Elissa Slotkin will respond this year.
The U.S. Constitution mandates that the president provide updates to Congress and recommend policies, although it does not specify when this should occur. Historically, these addresses have taken place in January or February.
The tradition of addressing Congress dates back to the founding of the united states. While initially called “the President’s Annual Message to Congress,” it evolved into what we now recognize as the State of the Union address. In 1934, Franklin D. Roosevelt formalized its current name during his presidency.
President Ronald Reagan was the first to deliver an inaugural joint address after being sworn in for his first term in 1981. Other presidents like George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton followed suit with their own inaugural addresses titled “Administration Goals.”
This year’s joint address will be significant as it sets the tone for Trump’s policy priorities moving forward. The opposing party traditionally responds with a televised speech; this year, Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan will deliver that response.
- First joint address: March 4, 2025
- Location: U.S. House chamber
- Opposing party response: Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
This upcoming joint session reflects both continuity and change within U.S. political traditions while emphasizing Trump’s agenda for his second term. As he outlines his plans, attention will also focus on responses from lawmakers across party lines.
