<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="" title="US President Donald Trump"><span>US President Donald Trump</span></a><span> is set for the biggest night of the US political calendar - the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/state-of-the-union" rel="" target="" title="State of the Union"><span>State of the Union</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The president will speak to both Houses of Congress as well as the Supreme Court, the cabinet, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the nation and the world.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Here's what to expect.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><span>When is the State of the Union?</span></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The State of the Union is set to begin at 1pm AEDT (9pm US Eastern time).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>You can watch the full address on our livestream at the top of the page.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>You can also follow live updates and analysis through our live blog.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/trump-state-of-the-union-address-everything-to-know-explained/c604455a-b4d9-4ed1-9b2e-20ec7dfaf93e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><span>How long will Trump speak for?</span></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Donald Trump's state of the unions typically go about an hour and 20 minutes, but </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-speech-to-congress-expected-to-outline-sweeping-changes/4f4fa8de-2579-4687-87cc-b5a9b80bc618" rel="" target="" title="last year's speech went for an hour and 39 minutes"><span>last year's speech went for an hour and 39 minutes</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He's already flagged viewers should expect a marathon address.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's going to be a long speech, because we have so much to talk about," Trump said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The question might come down to how much the president goes off-script, which he has been known to do.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/charles-kusher-donald-trump-french-ambassador-france-usa-news/762a41ae-22eb-4133-800a-e47b22af0cee"><strong><span>France cuts off Trump's ambassador after he blows off meeting</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><span>What will Trump talk about?</span></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If the president was running for re-election, he would likely focus his speech on affordability.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But instead Trump has flagged that he will be speaking about tariffs - a hobbyhorse he has built his political career upon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Friday the Supreme Court ruled that his sweeping Liberation Day tariffs were illegal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today he will have an opportunity to confront the justices on the one day of the year they are in the same room.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump will also tout his achievements regarding immigration.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's also likely he'll speak about violent crime in cities, securing the border and confronting </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="" title="China"><span>China</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's also possible he will take on deeply unpopular topics that he himself is keen on - </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/greenland" rel="" target="" title="annexing Greenland"><span>annexing Greenland</span></a><span>, renovations at the White House and a large monument he wants built in Washington.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-told-police-in-mid-2000s-everyone-has-known-about-epsteins-misconduct/bac5dfc1-d0d4-4c62-9504-86d8bc92e0b8"><strong><span>Trump told police in mid-2000s 'everyone has known' about Epstein's misconduct</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><span>How will the Democrats reply?</span></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Democratic operatives will be hoping the politicians in attendance can put together a more cohesive opposition today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last year some Democrats didn't turn up, while others staged a walkout midway through (which went unnoticed by the television cameras). Others held up signs, while one, Representative Al Green, stood up and heckled the president.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the party copped flak for largely staying silent during the proceedings, including a moment where Republicans stood to cheer a 13-year-old cancer survivor.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some Democrats have said they will boycott the event today, though others have confirmed they'll be in attendance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The formal reply will come from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-election-results-donald-trump-virginia-new-jersey-live-updates-usa/1d7a9c41-2a83-40fd-bdee-49a5f77ab307" rel="" target="" title="Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger"><span>Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger</span></a><span>, who will address the nation once Trump's speech ends.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The State of the Union response is widely seen as a poisoned chalice - a place for potential presidential aspirants to look unprepared and uncharismatic.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/pam-bondi-jeffrey-epstein-victims-congressional-hearing-jamie-raskin-pramila-jayapal/74f21ec7-5c01-4c70-bc3c-0a31327ce022"><strong><span>Trump's attorney-general refuses to face Epstein victims, apologise</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><span>How will Republicans respond?</span></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Presidents can expect their own party members to be enthusiastic when it comes to states of the union addresses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But Trump's approval rating is dire right now, and most politicians in the building will be up for re-election in November.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So if Trump announces new tariffs or touts the work of ICE during his address, some Republicans may not leap to their feet to applaud ecstatically.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But expect those facing a primary challenge to cheer Trump like they're watching The Beatles in 1964.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/six-names-in-epstein-files-redacted--ro-khanna-thomas-massie-usa-news/5dca7843-114e-4188-89da-dbb1f291b6fa"><strong><span>Trump in the unredacted Epstein files 'a million times'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><span>Who else will be at the State of the Union?</span></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both the president and members of Congress are allowed to bring guests to the event.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This rule was created for spouses and children but it is increasingly being used for political purposes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A handful of Democrats have invited </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/pam-bondi-jeffrey-epstein-victims-congressional-hearing-jamie-raskin-pramila-jayapal/74f21ec7-5c01-4c70-bc3c-0a31327ce022" rel="" target="" title="victims of Jeffrey Epstein"><span>victims of Jeffrey Epstein</span></a><span> as their guests to the event.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And in response to the ICE crackdown, other invited guests include a woman shot five times by an agent in Chicago, and a US citizen detained despite his legal status.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A group of sheriffs have been invited by Republican members of Congress.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><span>Who's the designated survivor?</span></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With just about everybody in the line of succession present in the room during the State of the Union, nobody would be in charge if the building collapsed and killed everybody.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So a "designated survivor" is appointed every year from the line of succession to not attend the event.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This cabinet member has not yet been identified, but they will be elsewhere on the night just in case the unthinkable happens.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-judges-tariff-decision-usa-news-latest-supreme-court/bbbd3c3d-82fc-436a-8654-9cc7e5d26527" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>'I can destroy the country': Trump's rant after Supreme Court strikes down key policy</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter 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