“BIG DAY”
It will mark a triumphant comeback to the Capitol for Trump, just four years after he left office in disgrace after his supporters stormed the building in protest at his 2020 election loss.
Trump returns as the most powerful Republican president in decades, with the popular vote behind him and a Republican-controlled House and Senate doing his bidding.
The 78-year-old also appears to be determined to test the limits of presidential power – in the face of Congress and the courts if necessary – referring to himself on occasion as a “king” and musing about a constitutionally-barred third term.
Aided by Musk, Trump has pushed through an unprecedented blitz on the federal bureaucracy that has led to thousands of job cuts, the closure of entire agencies and the decimation of foreign aid.
Republicans have welcomed Trump’s rapid start to his new term and have thrown up few roadblocks. They rapidly confirmed a number of cabinet members including vaccine skeptic Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.
Democrats have so far struggled to counter Trump’s “flood the zone” strategy and his hogging of the news cycle with constant press conferences.
But the speech promises to be rowdy, with Democratic lawmakers bringing as guests a number of federal workers targeted by Musk’s Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The Democratic rebuttal to Trump’s address will be provided by new Michigan senator Elissa Slotkin, a 48-year-old former CIA analyst and rising star in the party.
Republicans are expected to cheer Trump on loudly, while the president and First Lady Melania Trump will invite guests who reflect his speech’s priorities.
“We’re so excited – it’s a big day and it’s a big night for President Trump and we know he’s going to give a fantastic speech,” Leavitt said.
