State of the Union
Author: Greg Valliere
February 24, 2026
Most State of the Union speeches are boring and predictable. Tonight’s may be different.
It’s only a slight exaggeration to assert that this speech may be among the most crucial of Trump’s presidency — as his popularity crashes and his allies flee.
Trump’s life preserver is the Democrats, who still don’t have a clear strategy. But the mantra in Washington continues: it’s the economy, stupid. And that’s all the Democrats have to say.
The Democrats don’t need a 10-point agenda; they simply need to demand an end of tariffs, with refunds for everyone. We talked yesterday with Republicans who are beginning to speak loudly against tariffs and the cost of living.
In the last election, Hispanic voters were a surprising plus for Trump. Now those voters have turned against him, thanks to the Minneapolis riots.
So it appears that Trump will need a diversion tonight; a walkout by some Democrats would actually be welcomed by the GOP. The Democrats’ response will be delivered by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, hardly a household name.
What will the headlines say tomorrow morning? Trump can’t get traction on the economy, and people hate the tariffs, so he may have to reach for the ultimate diversion: geopolitics, starting with Iran.
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