Franco Ordonez

Well, I expect his team is finishing a speech that tries to do that, push the reset button.

a speech that not only touts his accomplishments, but sets the stage for the upcoming midterms, focusing on how the administration plans to really tackle costs for everyday Americans.

But I spoke with Ashley Koenig, a pollster from Rutgers University, who told me that the administration faces an uphill battle.

You know, and the thing is, Steve, you really don't know what Trump is going to say.

And the reality here is the president says a lot of things in public.

But he hasn't really explained some of the policies, in a way at least, that many Americans would approve.

So he has this opportunity to clarify those plans tonight.

Yeah, I mean, a huge blow to his agenda and a great example to what we're talking about.

Trump's promising new tariffs under a different law, which really has some Republicans concerned because of the associated higher costs.

John McHenry, a veteran Republican strategist.

told me that Trump could take this moment to give his reasons for a policy many Americans don't agree with.

Yeah.

And just think about this, Steve, those justices are going to be in the room with Trump.

And as always the case with this president, the optics are going to be a big part of the evening.

So when Trump sees those justices, you know, walking in and their black robes, you know, is he going to be able to resist attacking them personally as he did so aggressively last week?

Yeah, I think a similar one.

I mean, right now there's a real concern, especially from his own party, that the U.S.

can be dragged into a long-term conflict, you know, the kind of conflict Trump himself pledged to avoid.

Again, Trump has not made the public case for why strikes may be necessary, as presidents have in the past.

And this could be an opportunity for Trump to do that, to explain his reasoning.