Trump Enters State of the Union Facing Lowest Job Approval Ratings of Second Term

President Trump prepares for a high-stakes SOTU address amid plummeting approval ratings, a DHS shutdown, and fallout from the Supreme Court tariff ruling.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 24, 2026, 7:16 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Politico

A Record-Breaking Address Amid Plunging Public Support

President Trump signaled on Monday that his upcoming State of the Union address will likely be a lengthy affair, potentially surpassing his own 2025 record of one hour and 39 minutes. However, the tone of the speech will be shaped by a sobering political landscape. Republican pollsters note that the president is currently at his lowest point in public opinion since his second term began, with voters expressing increasing disapproval over his handling of inflation, immigration, and trade. For embattled GOP lawmakers, the speech represents a critical opportunity or a potential risk for the party to unify its message before the 2026 midterms.

Supreme Court and Congressional Tension Over Tariffs

The House chamber will provide a tense backdrop as the president faces the Supreme Court justices who recently overturned his sweeping tariff program. This rare judicial setback is compounded by resistance from his own party in Congress. Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that the House is unlikely to act to codify the president's tariff agenda, leaving the administration without a clear legislative path to restore the duties struck down by the court. Trump is expected to use the platform to pressure lawmakers and criticize the judiciary, a move that could further strain relations between the executive and legislative branches.

Day 11 of the DHS Shutdown and Immigration Standoff

The State of the Union occurs during the eleventh day of a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Negotiations have stalled over Democratic demands for stricter guardrails on federal immigration agents, while the White House has moved to scale back airport security operations to exert pressure on travelers and lawmakers. Observers are watching closely to see if Trump will offer a path toward resolution or double down on "hardball" tactics. The standoff highlights the deep partisan divide over border policy that has become a defining feature of the current administration.