SALT LAKE CITY — President Donald Trump will address the nation Tuesday evening in the third State of the Union of his presidency.
Trump’s speech, in the same room where he was impeached last December, comes as the Senate’s impeachment trial winds down to what is expected to be a vote to acquit the president on Wednesday.
Here’s some important context for tonight’s address:
Trump’s Special Guests list eludes to topics to be addressed in State of the Union
The President released a list of Special Guests to the State of the Union of Tuesday afternoon. The eight invitees or families include military veterans, a Border Patrol deputy chief, a mother that supports school choice, and a man who’s brother was killed by an immigrant that entered the country illegally among others, according to the White House.
If the guest list is a hint to what Trump finds important during the address, it’s likely that immigration, education, veterans rehabilitation and national security will be some of the main themes.
The Iowa caucus was supposed to be over by now. It’s not.
While Iowa Democrats waded through technological problems with their caucus results Monday night, Trump tweeted that the “Democratic Caucus is an unmitigated disaster.” The Iowa caucus would give the president his first look at a potential Democratic contender.
By Tuesday afternoon — just four hours before the State of the Union — Iowa caucus managers were only prepared to report 62% of the results. The late and incomplete results showed Pete Buttigieg leading with 26.9%, Sen. Bernie Sanders with 25.1%, Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 18.3% and finally former Vice President Joe Biden trailing the pack with 15.6% of Iowa voters.
Understanding the president’s propensity for confrontation, fellow Republicans have urged him to focus — literally— on the State of the Union Tuesday while saving the stump speech for the campaign trail.
The impeached elephant in the room
Republicans are also encouraging the president to avoid discussing impeachment during the State of the Union.
“The president’s got a good record when you look at the economy and lower taxes and fewer regulations and higher incomes and I think he’d be well advised to focus on that and let the impeachment trial speak for itself,” Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said, Politico reported.
Also according to Politico, Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, said, “There are a lot of really great things he should talk about — and stay away from maybe what the proceedings are. We’re not voting until Wednesday.”
Trump’s approval reaches a personal high
A Gallup poll released Tuesday shows Trump’s job approval rating has reached 49%, with 94% approval from Republicans. Both measures are personal records for Trump since taking office three years ago.
The poll showed that only 7% of Democrats think the president is doing a good job, marking the largest divide between members of the two parties in Gallup poll history.
CNN not invited to lunch
Television anchors from CNN were excluded from an annual — and off the record — presidential lunch hosted by the White House before the State of the Union, CNN reported.
Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper, both popular anchors at the network, went to last year’s pre-State of the Union lunch and Blitzer had attended the event for 20 consecutive years, according to CNN.
When and where to watch
The State of the Union is expected to begin at 7 p.m. MT (9 p.m. ET) and will be broadcast and streamed by most major networks.