What Time Is President Trump's Speech Tonight? How to Watch His First Address to Congress (and Why It’s Not a State of the Union)

Mar. 15, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on March 3, 2025 in Washington, D.C.Photo:Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty

Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty

President Donald Trumpis holding his first joint congressional address of his second term.

The White Houseteased the speechon March 3 with a post on X, featuring an image of the 47th president with a screenshot of a post from his personal X account that read, “TOMORROW NIGHT WILL BE BIG. I WILL TELL IT LIKE IT IS!” Later, they shared anotherpostannouncing that the theme of Trump’s speech would be “the renewal of the American Dream.”

The address will be held at 9 p.m. ET on March 4 in the U.S. House chamber, per theAssociated Press.

In addition to Trump, his Cabinet and members of the U.S. Supreme Court, first ladyMelania Trumphas invited a few notable “everyday Americans” to watch the address. The guest list includes, among others, the parents ofLaken Riley, a student who was murdered while out jogging; Marc Fogel, a former hostage of the Russian government who was released via a presidential negotiation; and the family ofCorey Comperatore, a firefighter killed during anassassination attempt on Trumpin July 2024, according to theWhite House.

Elon Muskwill also attend, and Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan will deliver the Democratic response to the address, per theWhite House.

Here’s everything to know about President Trump’s March 4 speech to Congress, including how to watch it.

What time is President Trump’s speech tonight?

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 3, 2025.ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty

ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty

Trump’s joint address to Congress is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET on March 4, 2025.

According to his schedule, Trump is expected to begin speaking around 9:10 p.m. and leave the Capitol at 11:20 p.m.

What will President Trump’s speech be about?

U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House on February 25, 2025 in Washington, DC.Alex Wong/Getty

Alex Wong/Getty

The White House hasn’t released the exact topics Trump will be speaking on. However, he’s expected to discuss the controversial changes he’s made to both domestic and foreign policy during his first six weeks in office, as well as his priorities for the rest of the year.

How can I watch President Trump’s speech?

U.S. President Donald Trump during a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on February 27, 2025 in Washington, DC.Andrew Harnik/Getty

Andrew Harnik/Getty

Trump’s congressional address will be televised on multiple networks, including NBC, CBS, PBS, ABC, NewsNation and the Fox broadcast network.

Multiple news outlets, like AP andThe New York Times, will also stream the speech on their websites.

Which cable shows will President Trump’s speech interrupt?

A few networks had to shift their Tuesday night lineup to accommodate Trump’s address.NBCannounced thatDeal or No Deal Islandwill air one hour earlier at 8 p.m. ET. on March 4, before Trump’s speech.

CBS isn’t airing any new episodes ofFBI,FBI: InternationalorFBI: Most Wanted, which typically make up its Tuesday evening programming. Instead, the shows will pause for the week of March 4 and resume their regular schedule on March 11, perthe network’s schedule.

Is President Trump’s speech to Congress a State of the Union?

U.S. President Donald Trump during a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on February 24, 2025 in Washington D.C.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

No, Trump’s speech is not technically a State of the Union address.

The Constitution mandates that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union.” Since George Washington gave the first in 1790, the way in which these addresses are delivered has varied, with some presidents even choosing to send written addresses versus oral speeches.

However, a State of the Union traditionally reflects on the president’s actions and decisions over the prior year. So speeches delivered early in a president’s term are not considered State of the Union addresses, perThe New York Times.

Since Trump has only been in office for six weeks, his March 4 address isn’t considered a State of the Union.

source: people.com