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The State of the Union Will Be Even Worse Than Trump’s Polling Numbers

What’s a flopping demagogue to do? Lash out at his enemies, pretend he’s doing great, and bore us all into submission.

Donald Trump at the White House on February 23, 2026.

Donald Trump’s State of the Union address tonight promises to be a tedious exercise in boasting about imaginary achievements and berating political foes. We know this for two reasons: first, because, no matter who is president, the State of the Union is practically by definition a tedious exercise in boasting about imaginary achievements and berating political foes; and second, because Trump is facing serious political setbacks and is responding to them by amping up his vainglorious self-celebration. 

Trump gave his version of a sneak preview for the speech on Monday “So we have a country that’s now doing well,” he said at the White House. “We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had. We have the most activity we’ve ever had. I’m making a speech tomorrow night, and you’ll be hearing me say that. It’s going to be a long speech, because we have so much to talk about.”

Since Trump has never favored brevity, his foreshadowing of a “long speech” feels like a threat more than an enticement. Perhaps he’s hoping that droning on will lull the American people into forgetting that they really don’t like him.

Trump might feel like the economy is gangbusters, but that’s a minority position in the country. According to a Washington Post/ABC News/IPSOS poll released on Sunday, 57 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy, 64 percent his handling of tariffs, and 65 percent his handling of inflation. 

Summing up this polling, the Post records a near-record level of public dissatisfaction:

Americans remain generally sour about his performance, with majorities disapproving of his handling of priority initiatives while saying he has overreached the authority of his office… The president’s approval rating........

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