5 questions going into the State of the Union 2026

1. What do Americans think about the state of the union heading into Trump’s address?

Not good, according to the latest Marist poll released in February 2026. A majority of Americans — 57% — say the state of the union is “not very strong” or “not strong at all,” up from 53% in March 2025. Six in ten say the country is worse off than it was a year ago, and more than seven in ten believe U.S. democracy is in jeopardy.

Those findings come as President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, which the Associated Press reports is expected to double as a political test run ahead of November’s congressional elections.

2. What issues is Trump expected to emphasize in the speech?

The economy will be front and center, according to the Associated Press, which reports that Republican strategists — including Alex Conant — and Vice President JD Vance expect Trump to focus heavily on domestic economic issues.

That includes tax cuts, manufacturing, reshoring jobs and lowering energy costs. The AP notes that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling striking down many of Trump’s sweeping tariffs has complicated his economic message, making it even more urgent for him to reassure voters about prices and growth.

While Trump has been active on foreign policy, the AP reports that the speech is expected to lean heavily into economic themes.

3. How are Trump’s policies landing with the American public personally?

According to the February 2026 Marist poll, more than half of Americans — 53%, up from 49% last April — say Trump’s second-term policies have had a mostly negative personal impact on them. Only 30% report a mostly positive impact.

The divide is sharply partisan. The Marist survey finds that 85% of Democrats and 58% of independents report mostly negative personal effects, while 69% of Republicans say they’ve benefited.

The Associated Press story notes that Trump’s approval on key issues like the economy and immigration has softened compared with earlier expectations, underscoring the political stakes of the address.

4. Do Americans feel the system of checks and balances is working?

Increasingly, no. The Marist poll finds that 68% of Americans disagree that the system of checks and balances is functioning well — up from 56% last year.

Notably, 43% of Republicans now say the system isn’t working effectively, compared with 26% a year ago, suggesting concerns that cross party lines.

These findings come as the AP reports that the Supreme Court recently curtailed some of Trump’s tariff authority, highlighting tensions between branches of government.

5. How much does a State of the Union address actually matter?

Historically, not as much as it once did. As the Associated Press reports, political analysts say the address has lost much of its impact in an era of constant presidential communication.

Matt Latimer, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, told the AP that a State of the Union “only matters in moments when the country is undergoing a great trauma” and leaders want to speak in a mostly unified voice.

With the country deeply divided along partisan lines, the AP suggests Trump’s speech is more likely to function as a campaign-style address than a unifying national moment — and, given his tendency to veer off script, a stray remark or social media post could easily overshadow the message.