WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has a midterm year message to sell. Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday (Feb. 24, 2026) boasted about economic strength and a tougher America. The Republican president will get the chance to test drive that narrative later this week, when he travel s to Texas to talk about the economy and energy policies. Republican lawmakers say Trump’s State of the Union sets the tone for their campaign message this year. While presidential travel remains key, Trump is known for finding ways to grab attention. Trump’s speech was peppered with a series of made-for-social-media surprises designed to be clipped and replayed repeatedly. Democrats argue many American families are still struggling under Trump’s policies. ...read more read less