President Trump confronts Supreme Court rebukes, economic worries and public discontent over immigration as he prepares for major speech.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s previously unchecked momentum has hit significant obstacles ahead of his State of the Union address. The president faces a series of setbacks including Supreme Court reversals, disappointing economic data and growing public dissatisfaction.
On Friday, the Supreme Court delivered a sharp rebuke of his use of tariffs, which he often imposed via social media orders. The same day, government data showed the US economy expanded at a 1.4% annual rate in the last quarter of 2025, well below the 2.5% analysts forecast.
Polls show growing dissatisfaction with the cost of living and Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants. “You cannot out-message the economy. People know what they are spending,” political science professor Todd Belt told AFP.
Trump has insisted on his record, stating “I’ve won affordability” during a speech in Georgia. Belt noted people become resentful when told something they know isn’t true, which applies to both economic and immigration issues.
The administration has faced other recent controversies, including a racist video of Barack Obama posted to Trump’s Truth Social account. The White House initially brushed it off before claiming an unnamed aide was responsible.
After federal immigration agents shot and killed two US citizens during operations in Minneapolis, the administration scaled back its deployment there. Internationally, Trump has dialled back threats to seize Greenland despite establishing a working group on Arctic security.
Following the Supreme Court’s tariff rebuff, Trump imposed an across-the-board 10% tariff on imports. The administration vowed to find other ways to implement tariffs, decrying the court’s “lawlessness” as challenges to his policies wind through the judicial system.
With midterm elections approaching in November, economic issues threaten Republicans despite having sunk Trump’s predecessor. Trump has warned that Democratic control could lead to a new impeachment effort.
Despite being chastened by recent events, Trump retains a Republican-controlled Congress and remains in the White House until 2029. His primetime address will present his accomplishments and agenda to a nation where his boasts may now carry less weight.
