Political Strategists Share How Trump Should Kick Off His 4-Year Term

President Donald Trump will mark the start of his four-year term with an address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday evening. With six weeks already behind him, his presidency has been characterized by a whirlwind of executive orders, ambitious international policy shifts, and efforts to streamline government operations. Political strategists, both Republican and Democratic, have shared their expectations for Trump's pivotal speech.

Republicans suggest Trump should use the opportunity to showcase his early accomplishments and draw sharp contrasts with the administration of former President Joe Biden. Democrats, on the other hand, are gearing up to criticize Trump for failing to deliver on promises like lowering costs for Americans.

Senator Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., has been assigned the task of delivering the Democratic rebuttal. Meanwhile, political columnist Kristin Tate believes that Trump's messaging will emphasize decisiveness, arguing that the Biden administration lacked direction and clarity. "There couldn’t be a more dramatic change from Biden to Trump," Tate said bluntly.

Republican strategist Matt Gorman echoed this sentiment, urging Trump to weave a cohesive narrative that ties his actions over the last six weeks into a broader vision for the nation. "It’s a status update," Gorman explained, adding that Trump should highlight how his moves so far reflect his vision for the next few years. "He needs to tell a story," Gorman noted—a tip that, let’s admit, might be easier said than done.

Trump’s allies also anticipate a victory lap, touting achievements like reducing illegal border crossings, rolling back Biden-era green energy policies, and reshaping the Justice Department. But Colin Reed, another Republican strategist, stressed the importance of looking forward. "Time is fleeting," Reed said, calling for Trump to outline big-ticket legislative priorities and move beyond executive actions.

On the foreign policy front, Trump’s recent tense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cast a shadow over his domestic agenda. Reed suggested that Tuesday’s address offers Trump a chance to shift the narrative back to his domestic goals, while also blaming Biden’s "leftover mess" for current global challenges. (Classic Trump move, right?)

Democrats, meanwhile, are trying to frame Trump’s presidency as chaotic and ineffective. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin has been traveling the country ahead of the speech, highlighting what he describes as the disruption caused by Trump and his allies, including tech mogul Elon Musk. Slotkin’s rebuttal will likely aim to paint the Democratic Party as the antidote to this chaos.

However, Democrats themselves seem to be grappling with their own identity crisis. "They’re in an era of confusion," Gorman said, suggesting that the party lacks a clear strategy to counter Trump’s agenda. Brad Bannon, a Democratic strategist, criticized Trump for failing to expand his base of support, arguing that his actions so far have been aimed solely at appeasing his loyal MAGA followers.

Adding a twist, Tate suggested that Trump might extend an olive branch to moderate Democrats during his speech, potentially highlighting figures like Senator John Fetterman, who she described as someone willing to work across the aisle. "He really needs to do this," Tate remarked, emphasizing the importance of unity in advancing Trump’s agenda.

Ultimately, the stakes for Tuesday’s address are high on both sides. Trump is expected to tout his achievements and present his vision for the future, while Democrats will use Slotkin’s response to redefine their own message. Bannon warned that simply defending the status quo would be a mistake for Democrats. "They need to go bold," he urged, pointing out that Trump’s appeal lies in his ability to challenge the status quo—a strategy that continues to resonate with many Americans.

Regardless of the political theatrics, one thing is clear: Tuesday night’s address will set the tone for the next four years of Trump’s presidency. And while both parties gear up for their respective battles, the real winners—or losers—will be the American people.