President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address is expected to focus largely on domestic priorities, but it also offers a pivotal moment for him to defend his foreign policy record amid growing public unease. Recent surveys show a majority of Americans disapprove of his handling of international affairs and believe he has gone too far in deploying the military abroad, raising pressure on the president to justify his actions while reaffirming his 'America First' philosophy.

Trump is likely to highlight what he views as major achievements, including brokering a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, pressing North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies to increase defense spending, and overseeing the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. At the same time, he faces mounting questions over Iran, as his administration weighs potential new military action while pursuing nuclear talks. The president may need to explain why further force could be necessary months after declaring that prior strikes had crippled Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

The address also comes on the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Trump under scrutiny for failing to quickly end the war as he once promised. Negotiations continue, but major disputes remain between Moscow and Kyiv, and Trump has signaled impatience for a deal ahead of the midterm elections. His remarks will be closely watched in Europe for clues about his strategy.

In addition, Trump is expected to defend his aggressive trade policies after the Supreme Court struck down his use of a decades-old law to impose sweeping tariffs. He has moved to enact new global import taxes and warned trading partners against challenging his authority, even as critics argue the shifting tariff landscape is creating economic uncertainty at home.