Watch the STATE OF THE UNION LIVE HERE
Trump delivers his 2026 State of the Union address tonight before a joint session of Congress, and you can watch the entire speech live for free right here. The address begins at 9 p.m. ET from the U.S. House chamber, with coverage across every major broadcast network, cable news channel, and streaming platform.
This is Trump’s first official State of the Union of his second term, and it comes at one of the most politically volatile moments of his presidency. The Supreme Court just struck down his sweeping tariffs. A partial government shutdown is dragging into its second week. Tensions with Iran are escalating. And his approval rating on the economy, once his strongest card, is now underwater heading into midterm election season.
The White House has billed the speech’s theme as “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected,” a nod to the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday. But the reality facing Trump tonight is more complicated than any slogan can capture.
What Time Is The State Of The Union Tonight?
The 2026 State of the Union address is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 24. That’s 8 p.m. Central, 7 p.m. Mountain, and 6 p.m. Pacific. Pre-show coverage on most networks starts between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET, with analysis, previews, and panel discussions leading into the main event.
Trump himself has warned viewers to settle in, telling reporters yesterday to expect “a long speech, because we have so much to talk about.”
How To Watch The State Of The Union Free
The good news: you don’t need a cable subscription to watch tonight. The State of the Union airs live across all major broadcast networks, meaning ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS will carry the speech free over the air and through their streaming platforms. Here’s the full breakdown of where to watch.
Broadcast Networks (Free Over-the-Air): ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and PBS will all carry the speech live starting at 9 p.m. ET. If you have an antenna, you’re covered.
PBS: Coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET with PBS NewsHour co-anchors Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett leading special coverage at 9 p.m. Available on local PBS stations, PBS.org, and YouTube. PBS is also providing live ASL interpretation.
ABC News: David Muir leads coverage from Washington with special programming from 9 to 11 p.m. ET on ABC. The speech also streams free on ABC News Live, Disney+, and Hulu. George Stephanopoulos will handle pre-show and post-show analysis.
CNN: Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper anchor live coverage starting at 8 p.m. ET. Available on CNN, CNN.com, CNN apps, and connected TV. CNN is also streaming on YouTube.
Fox News: Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum begin coverage at 8:50 p.m. ET. Available across Fox News Channel, FoxNews.com, the Fox News App, Fox Nation, and Fox One. Shannon Bream anchors on the Fox broadcast network starting at 9 p.m.
C-SPAN: Straight coverage with no commentary, as always. C-SPAN is also teaming up with Chris Cillizza and Chuck Todd for a YouTube “Watch With” starting around 8:30 p.m. ET for those who want analysis alongside the gavel-to-gavel feed.
White House: The speech will be streamed live on the White House website and official YouTube page.
NewsNation: Leland Vittert hosts a special three-hour broadcast starting at 9 p.m. ET with political analysis from Chris Stirewalt and Katie Pavlich.
Sling TV: Multiple free options through Sling Freestream, including ABC News Live, BBC News, Scripps News, and Newsmax2.
What To Expect From Trump’s Speech
Trump is walking into the House chamber tonight with more political baggage than he’d like. A senior administration official told NBC News that the president will try to sell Americans on the economy and roll out new affordability measures, including a plan to require tech companies to pay for increased electricity costs tied to AI data centers. But selling economic optimism is harder when only 39% of Americans approve of your handling of the economy, according to a recent AP-NORC poll.
The tariff question looms large. Less than a week ago, the Supreme Court ruled Trump doesn’t have the authority to impose sweeping tariffs under emergency powers law, dealing a significant blow to the cornerstone of his trade agenda. Trump has vowed to go around the ruling using other authorities, and his reworked global tariffs took effect today at a 10% rate. Expect him to address this directly.
Foreign policy will feature prominently. U.S. tensions with Iran over the country’s nuclear program have been escalating, with Trump refusing to rule out military force if negotiations fail. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt teased last week that the speech would reveal more about the president’s thinking on Iran, calling it “a very good and powerful speech.”
Trump is also expected to tout the GOP tax cut package passed last summer, his immigration enforcement record, and what the administration frames as “peace through strength” foreign policy. The partial government shutdown over DHS funding, now in its second week due to Democratic opposition to aggressive immigration enforcement, will likely come up as well.
The Democratic Response
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger will deliver the official Democratic response immediately following the address. Spanberger, a former CIA officer who served three terms in Congress, became Virginia’s first female governor after flipping the mansion from red to blue in 2025. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Spanberger “will lay out a clear path forward: lower everyday costs, protect healthcare, and defend the freedoms that define who we are as a nation.” California Senator Alex Padilla will deliver the Spanish-language response.
Meanwhile, more than two dozen Democratic lawmakers are boycotting the speech entirely, opting instead to attend a “People’s State of the Union” rally on the National Mall hosted by MoveOn.org and MeidasTouch. The U.S. Women’s Hockey Team also declined Trump’s invitation to attend.
Who Is In The Room Tonight
Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson will be seated behind Trump on the dais. Members of the Supreme Court, Cabinet officials, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be in the front rows. One Cabinet member will be absent as the designated survivor, a standard protocol ensuring presidential succession in case of a catastrophic event.
First Lady Melania Trump will host guests in her box representing her foster care and responsible AI platforms. Speaker Johnson has invited the family of slain Louisiana police officer Marc Brock, who was killed in the line of duty in November.
The Stakes For 2026
This speech matters more than most State of the Union addresses. Midterm elections are looming, and Trump’s approval among independents is cratering according to CNN polling. The tariff defeat at the Supreme Court undermines one of his signature policy tools. The DHS shutdown makes his party look incapable of governing even with control of Congress. And the affordability crisis, the one issue that got him back into the White House, remains the biggest vulnerability heading into November.
Trump needs tonight to reset the narrative. Whether he can do that with a “long speech” that checks every policy box remains to be seen. One thing is certain: it won’t be boring.
This article will be updated with key takeaways and analysis after the speech concludes.