Is there a State of the Union in 2025? Technically no, but here’s what happens instead.
Since 1913, presidents normally deliver a State of the Union address outlining the nation’s priorities and achievements. But this year, there won't be a State of the Union, technically.
Typically, a State of the Union is delivered to a joint session of Congress inside the House of Representatives chamber. The idea of a State of the Union is written into the United States Constitution.
"He [the President] shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient," the Constitution says.
State of the Union addresses have been historically delivered between Jan. 3 and Feb. 2.
With a change of administrations happening this year, President Donald Trump’s speech in March will not technically be a State of the Union.
The designation is merely a technicality, according to the American Presidency Project.
"For research purposes, it is probably harmless to categorize these as State of the Union messages (as we do)," their website said. "The impact of such a speech on public, media, and congressional perceptions of presidential leadership and power should be the same as if the address was an official State of the Union."
Here is what you need to know about Trump’s speech.
The State of the Union. Kind of.
Back in January, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana. invited Trump to address a joint session of Congress on March 4. The date will mark the first time Trump will make a speech of this kind in his second administration.
“It is my distinct honor and great privilege to invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives, to share your America First vision for our legislative future,” Johnson’s letter to Trump said.
Although not an official State of the Union, incoming presidents since Ronald Reagan have delivered a speech in the first months of their presidency that has been widely considered the same as a State of the Union.
What President’s have delivered an ‘unofficial’ State of the Union?
The first president to deliver an “unofficial” State of the Union was Ronald Reagan in 1981 as he succeeded Democrat Jimmy Carter, according to the American Presidency Project.
Including Trump’s address in March, there have been eight occasions where new presidents have delivered an “unofficial” address.
- Ronald Regan - 1981
- George H.W. Bush - 1989
- Bill Clinton - 1993
- George W. Bush - 2001
- Barack Obama - 2009
- Donald Trump - 2017
- Joe Biden - 2021
- Donald Trump - 2025
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.