Trump To Deliver Prime‑Time Address Tonight, Counters Mounting Political and Economic Pressure

President Donald Trump will deliver a prime‑time address at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday to tout the administration's record from his first year back in the White House and preview policy priorities heading into 2026. The White House says the remarks will highlight border security, efforts to curb inflation and other accomplishments the administration calls "historic."

Timing and Political Context

The speech comes at a politically sensitive moment as the midterm election cycle ramps up. Trump faces sub‑par approval ratings and concern among some Republicans who say he has not focused enough on kitchen‑table issues, particularly inflation and affordability. Polling indicates a growing share of Americans view economic conditions negatively and blame the administration for insufficient action on rising costs.

Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to reporters on June 9, 2023, in Washington. (Alex Brandon, Associated Press file)

Domestic Tour and Messaging

Last week Trump began a domestic tour that included a stop in battleground Pennsylvania after a year of travel that emphasized foreign policy. He used that trip to highlight economic achievements and to criticize opponents. Vice President Vance followed with a visit to Allentown, Pa., pressing the administration's affordability message. The White House intends Wednesday's address to be a direct appeal to voters as the year closes.

Economic Snapshot

Economic data are mixed. The Labor Department reported the U.S. added 64,000 jobs in November, while the unemployment rate edged up to 4.6 percent — slightly above expectations. Private‑sector job gains and labor force participation beat projections, but federal layoffs and buyouts reduced overall job growth. At the same time, more than 20 million Americans could see health insurance premiums spike in January if enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expire at month’s end.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) speaks to reporters after announcing her run in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Dec. 8, 2025, in Dallas. (LM Otero, Associated Press)

Health Care Cliff and Congressional Gridlock

Congress has made little progress on extending the ACA subsidies. Republicans on the House Rules Committee late Tuesday blocked amendments that would have preserved the credits as part of a narrower GOP health proposal. If the subsidies lapse, millions could face higher premiums, a development that would likely amplify voter frustration about affordability ahead of next year's elections.

Personnel Controversy: Susie Wiles and Vanity Fair

The White House is managing fallout from a Vanity Fair article based on interviews with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The piece quotes Wiles making critical remarks about administration figures. Wiles condemned the article as a "disingenuously framed hit piece," saying context was omitted. Senior aides and allies publicly rallied around her, and the president reiterated his confidence in his chief of staff.

President Trump speaks during a Mexican Border Defense Medal presentation in the Oval Office of the White House, Dec. 15, 2025, in Washington. (Alex Brandon, Associated Press)

Oversight Fight: Jack Smith Testimony

Former special counsel Jack Smith is scheduled to testify behind closed doors Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee at the behest of Republicans probing his investigations related to Jan. 6 and the retention of classified materials. Smith had offered to testify publicly; Republican leaders rejected that offer, prompting criticism from Smith's attorney that the public was being denied the chance to hear from him directly. The inquiry may expand: the committee has requested interviews with several current and former DOJ officials involved in subpoenas for congressional phone records.

Foreign Policy Moves: Venezuela and Travel Restrictions

Trump said he would order a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela and seek to designate Nicolás Maduro's regime as a foreign terrorist organization, citing alleged ties to drug trafficking, human trafficking and other illicit activity. The administration also signed a proclamation expanding travel restrictions to include Syria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and the Palestinian territories, while imposing partial limits on travelers from several other countries. The administration framed the moves as national‑security measures; immigration advocates criticized them as overly broad and potentially xenophobic.

Christmas trees decorate the Cross Hall of the White House during a press preview of the Christmas decorations “Home is Where the Heart Is,” on Dec. 1, 2025, in Washington. (Evan Vucci, Associated Press)

Military Footage and Transparency Dispute

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to release the full, unedited video of military strikes on an alleged drug‑smuggling vessel in the Caribbean in early September, saying the decision adheres to long‑standing Pentagon policy. Lawmakers from both parties have pressed for release; Hegseth said congressional armed‑services committees will be shown the footage in classified settings, though senators who attended a closed briefing Tuesday were not shown the video.

House Republican Infighting Over Health Care

House Republicans erupted in recriminations after Speaker Mike Johnson reversed a pledge to allow a floor vote on an amendment to extend expiring ACA tax credits. Moderates complained the reversal amounted to "political malpractice," arguing leadership failed to address an imminent premium spike. The Rules Committee blocked the amendments from reaching the floor, leaving the fate of the subsidies unresolved as Congress heads into the holiday recess.

Other Notable Developments

• Rep. Jasmine Crockett's late Senate bid in Texas has divided Democrats; some worry her candidacy could boost Republicans in the general election.
• A federal judge signaled reluctance to issue an emergency order stopping construction of a planned White House ballroom, saying plaintiffs failed to show imminent, irreparable harm.
• Actor‑director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead in Los Angeles; their son has been charged in the deaths. Authorities say the 32‑year‑old had a history of substance‑use challenges.
• The menorah added to the White House collection in 2022 is not on display on the State Floor this season, though officials say it remains part of the collection and the White House will host Hanukkah events.

Schedule: The president will participate in a dignified transfer for two Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria at 1:15 p.m. and will deliver his address at 9 p.m. ET. The House convenes at 9 a.m.; the Senate meets at 10 a.m.