Poll: Trump to deliver State of the Union to a public that’s largely skeptical of nation’s direction

President Donald Trump will deliver the annual State of the Union address Tuesday, marking one year since his return to office during a period of sweeping political change and institutional strain.

Trump’s first year has been defined by rapid policy shifts, aggressive use of executive authority and a far-reaching Republican tax and spending law that reshaped domestic priorities. At the same time, court rulings, congressional tensions and public skepticism have underscored deep divisions over the direction of the country.

A new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds 57% of Americans say the state of the union is “not very strong” or “not strong at all,” up from 53% last March. Six in ten say the country is worse off than a year ago, and 55% say Trump’s direction represents change for the worse. Nearly seven in ten — 68% — say the system of checks and balances is not working well.

Trump’s signature legislative achievement is the GOP’s comprehensive tax and spending package, which expanded tax cuts, eliminated federal taxes on tips, created federally backed savings accounts for newborns and reduced funding for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The law also directs more than $170 billion toward border security and immigration enforcement.

Beyond legislation, the administration has issued more than 200 executive orders in its first year, according to Federal Register records, many of them challenged in court. In a significant setback, the Supreme Court struck down Trump’s broad tariff program in a 6–3 ruling, finding the administration exceeded its authority under federal trade law.

Immigration enforcement has been among the most visible and contentious elements of Trump’s second term. The administration has expanded deportation operations and converted warehouse facilities into detention centers in several states. Fatal shootings involving federal immigration officers during enforcement actions have drawn scrutiny.

On his first day back in office, Trump issued pardons and commutations to roughly 1,500 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The administration has also overseen major changes to federal agencies, with the Office of Personnel Management projecting that roughly 300,000 federal employees could leave government service through firings, buyouts or attrition during restructuring efforts.

As Trump addresses Congress, the speech comes amid heightened debate over executive power and the balance between the White House and lawmakers — and with much of the public expressing concern about the nation’s trajectory.