If you were looking for the official State of the Union in 2025, you might’ve actually missed it while looking for the wrong name. Seriously. Most people spent the early months of the year Googling "what time is the state of the union 2025" only to realize that, technically, there wasn't one.
At least, not by that name.
In the weird world of D.C. tradition, a president’s first big speech after an inauguration isn't called a State of the Union. It’s officially an "Address to a Joint Session of Congress." This happened on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, and it was anything but a standard Tuesday night.
The Specifics You Probably Missed
The whole thing kicked off at 9:19 p.m. EST.
If you remember the night, the energy was... tense. Donald Trump walked into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol to a room that was literally split down the middle. One side was a sea of cheering red ties, and the other was a wall of Democratic women wearing pink and white in silent protest.
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The speech didn't just run long; it shattered records. It clocked in at 1 hour and 39 minutes. That made it the longest address to a joint session in at least 61 years. If you were watching at home, you basically sat through a feature-length movie about tariffs and energy prices.
What Time Did the 2025 State of the Union (Address) Actually End?
The cameras finally cut away at 10:59 p.m. EST.
For most of us, that’s a late night. But for the people in that room, it felt even longer because of the interruptions. You might remember the moment Representative Al Green was actually removed from the chamber by the House Sergeant at Arms. He kept shouting about "mandates" until Speaker Mike Johnson had seen enough.
It was high drama.
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Why the Date and Name Matter
Why March 4th? Historically, that was the old Inauguration Day before the 20th Amendment changed things. Using that date was a bit of a symbolic nod.
And about that name—why isn't it a "State of the Union"?
The Constitution says the President "shall from time to time" give Congress info on the state of the union. But since a new president has only been on the job for a few weeks, the tradition (starting back with Reagan) is to just call it an "Address to Congress." It’s basically a "here is what I’m going to do" speech rather than a "here is how the country is doing" report.
Key Moments from the March 4th Address
The 2025 speech focused heavily on a few "America First" pillars:
- The Price of Eggs: Honestly, it sounds like a small detail, but Trump spent a significant chunk of time talking about grocery inflation.
- Energy and "DOGE": He gave a massive shout-out to Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.
- Foreign Policy: He teased a peace agreement for the Russo-Ukrainian War, claiming he’d received a letter from Zelenskyy that very morning.
- Tariffs: This was the big one. The speech happened just as 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico were taking effect.
The Rebuttals
Once the President stopped talking around 11:00 p.m., the other side got their turn. Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan gave the official Democratic response. It was a stark contrast—shorter, more focused on "checks and balances," and delivered from a much quieter room.
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Interestingly, we also saw responses from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Instagram Live and a Spanish-language response from Representative Adriano Espaillat. It was a fragmented night of media.
Looking Ahead to 2026
If you’re wondering when the actual formal State of the Union is happening (now that the first-year-address is out of the way), Speaker Mike Johnson has already sent the invite.
The 2026 State of the Union is scheduled for February 24, 2026.
Expect it to start in that same 9:00 p.m. EST window. If 2025 was the "vision" speech, 2026 will be the one where the administration has to account for the results of those 2025 policies.
Actionable Insights for Political Junkies
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for the next big D.C. event, here’s how to prep:
- Check the Congressional Calendar: The "State of the Union" is always an invitation. If the Speaker hasn't sent the letter, the date isn't set in stone.
- Watch C-SPAN for the "Raw" Feed: Major networks edit and provide commentary that can cut off the preamble (the handshaking and the "Designated Survivor" announcement). C-SPAN shows the whole weird ritual.
- Monitor the "Designated Survivor": In 2025, it was Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins. It’s a morbid but fascinating bit of trivia to see who stays in the bunker while everyone else is in the House Chamber.
To wrap this up, the 2025 address was a marathon of policy and political theater that ended just before midnight. If you're marking your calendar for the next one, keep February 24th clear. It’s likely to be just as loud.