Trump, facing headwinds at home and abroad, to address State of the Union

US President Donald Trump will deliver the traditional State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday at a fraught moment for his presidency, with his approval ratings slumping, anxieties rising over Iran and Americans struggling with the cost of living as the November midterm election nears.

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The televised prime-time speech to Congress, his second in the 13 months since returning to the White House, offers Trump a chance to persuade voters to keep Republicans in power. But it comes as he faces stiff political headwinds at home and abroad.

The appearance follows a turbulent few days for his administration, including a Supreme Court decision invalidating his global tariff regime and new data showing the economy slowed more than expected while inflation accelerated.

The Department of Homeland Security is mostly shut down due to a dispute between congressional Republicans and Democrats over the administration’s aggressive immigration tactics, following the fatal shootings of two US citizens in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Trump has struggled to turn the page on the scandal surrounding the government's release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump, who has openly coveted the Nobel Peace Prize and set up his own “Board of Peace,” appears to be inching closer to a military conflict with Iran over its nuclear program, moving warships to the Middle East and developing plans that could include a change of government, according to US officials.

Tuesday’s speech could offer Trump a chance to mount for the first time a public case for military intervention in Iran.

Two White House officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump will discuss his plans for Iran but did not offer details.