Dark clouds loomed over the U.S. Capitol on July 22, 2024, painting a dramatic backdrop in Washington, DC.
On Saturday, House Speaker Mike Johnson extended a formal invitation to President Donald Trump, proposing he address Congress in March. This speech would mark Trump’s inaugural joint address to Congress in his second term.
In his letter, Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for Trump to share his “America First vision for our legislative future” with both chambers on March 4. Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, added, “I eagerly await your response.”
Joint sessions of Congress typically provide a platform for the President or visiting world leaders to articulate their key priorities. These sessions occur several times annually. Last year saw three such gatherings, with then-President Joe Biden, Japan’s former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu taking the podium.
Presidents usually deliver their State of the Union addresses in February or March, though Johnson’s invitation did not specifically mention the State of the Union.
“America’s Golden Age has begun,” Johnson proclaimed in his letter, crediting Trump’s decisive leadership in the early days of his presidency for sparking a renewed sense of patriotism, unity, and optimism across the nation.
At the time of reporting, the White House had not responded to requests for comment.
Senate records indicate Trump has addressed joint sessions of Congress on four previous occasions. Three of these appearances were the annual State of the Union addresses, while the first came just over a month into his initial presidency.
His last address to a joint session was in February 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset and the subsequent nationwide halt.
During that speech, Trump criticized his political adversaries, labeling them part of the “radical left,” and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, a notable departure from tradition for the annual event. Following the address, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made headlines by tearing up her copy of Trump’s speech as he concluded.
