President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address sketched out his vision for Republican governance heading into the midterms, but it offered little legislative clarity. Trump gave Republicans a pass on trying to revive his global tariff campaign and didn’t demand another party-line domestic policy bill before November.
Instead, he used the bulk of the speech to focus on red-meat issues like immigration and gender-affirming health care. Lawmakers acknowledged that Trump’s prime-time address is unlikely to make more than a ripple in their congressional agenda over the coming months.
GOP leaders vow to focus on pocketbook issues, such as housing and energy permitting overhauls, but internal divisions among Republicans create major obstacles. Speaker Mike Johnson said his “zero-vote margin” will affect what items Trump’s wishlist ultimately makes it to the president’s desk.
The situation in the House is even more tenuous, with a thin GOP majority struggling to build support for bills like a ban on lawmaker stock-trading. One House Republican characterized the party as a “micromajority,” and some question whether one of its members can still be considered a Republican.
Trump urged Senate Republicans to act on the House-passed elections bill, but it’s unclear if he will push for a sustained presidential push to upend existing filibuster rules. Despite this, some Trump allies are trying to use his speech as a springboard to action, with some urging Congress to pass legislation that aligns with Trump’s priorities.
Overall, life in Washington is being hemmed in by the party’s barely-there majorities, making it difficult for lawmakers to achieve their legislative ambitions.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/25/trump-sotu-congress-agenda-00799454