Trump’s First Joint Address of Term Two Won’t Be Anything Like the Last Time

The president will address Congress on the heels of weeks of political explosions. This time around, he’s not likely to be too conciliatory. He’s mastered the “steamroll,” an adviser close to the president said.

Donald Trump

President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he arrives at the White House after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell) John McDonnell/AP

President Donald Trump had two goals for his first address to a joint session of Congress in 2017: reintroduce himself to America as the commander in chief and push a defiant Congress to stop fighting and work together on his big new agenda.

“The time for small thinking is over, the time for trivial fights is behind us,” he said at the time. “From now on, America will be empowered by our aspirations, not burdened by our fears.”

But Trump’s tone Tuesday — for his fifth address before the same body — is expected to be much different, according to people familiar with the president and his speech preparation.