What presidents said during State of the Union when political winds were against them

NPR | By Domenico Montanaro

Published February 24, 2026 at 5:44 PM EST

Facing rough poll numbers, President Trump has a lot at stake for the State of the Union address. Here's how other presidents have handled the moment.

Domenico Montanaro

Domenico Montanaro is NPR's senior political editor/correspondent. Based in Washington, D.C., his work appears on air and online delivering analysis of the political climate in Washington and campaigns. He also helps edit political coverage.

See stories by Domenico Montanaro

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