Donald Trump is preparing to take centre stage tonight for what promises to be one of the most explosive State of the Union addresses in US history.

Returning to the House of Representatives just over a year into his second term, the US President has already warned Americans to buckle up for a marathon session. “It’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about,” Trump told reporters, signalling he is ready to come out swinging against his critics.

Here is everything you need to know about tonight’s high-stakes address.

When and where?

The President will begin his address to a joint session of Congress at 9pm local time in the US. So, xx in the UK. You can watch the full speech live via major news networks and official White House streams.

Economy and ‘Obnoxious’ Tariffs

Despite a recent Supreme Court ruling striking down Trump’s global tariff mandate, Trump is expected to double down on his “America First” trade agenda. He has already threatened even more “obnoxious” measures to protect US industry. We’re also likely to see a focus on “affordability” as the US leader tries to convince the American public his policies are bringing cost of living to heel.

Foreign Policy: Iran and Venezuela

The address comes at a time when America is at odds with a few major nations around the world. In the Middle East, two US aircraft carriers are lying in wait as Trump weighs up what to do about Iran. In the Americas, the US President us likely to talk up the dramatic rendition of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by US forces as a major victory for his government’s foreign policy.

Immigration Crackdown

Immigration remains the cornerstone of the Trump agenda, with the president likely to gloat about achieving the lowest border crossing figures in 50 years. He’ll likely defend the aggressive tactics of ICE agents that have killed several US citizens during protests against immigration crackdowns, which in turn sparked fierce debate across the US.

The Boycott

It won’t just be a full house tonight. A number of high-profile Democrats will boycott the event, choosing instead to hold a “People’s State of the Union” rally on the National Mall. There, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger – who is seen by many as the future of the Democratic Party – will deliver the official rebuttal.

With the 2026 midterms looming and America still a deeply divided nation, tonight is more than just a speech— think of it as the starting pistol at a marathon, as tonight marks the start of a long race to another US election year.