Clark Judge, a longtime political speechwriter for former President Ronald Reagan and chairman of the Pacific Research Institute, gave an interview where he said that Tuesday's State of the Union speech is a pivotal moment in Donald Trump's presidency.
Judge spoke to Fox News Digital ahead of Trump's fourth State of the Union address on February 24, 2026, saying that this year's speech isn't just a ritual political performance, but a chance for Trump to find America's place in the world and set a tone for the rest of his second term.
"Threats to the country and to the economy were growing," Judge told Fox News Digital. "Now, in area after area, those threats have been confronted and defeated." The former Reagan aide said Trump should use the address not just to list achievements, but to articulate a coherent narrative about where the nation stands internationally and domestically.
Drawing on his experience with Reagan, Judge emphasized what he called "clarity" as the defining strength of the 40th president, which Trump should strive for in his own address. "People knew where [Reagan] would come down," Judge said. "One advantage of working with him was that he had been so clear throughout his career on what he was for."
For Trump, that means avoiding overly rally-style rhetoric and instead presenting a structured, purposeful message that can resonate beyond his political base and speak to a broader national audience. Speechwriters from prior administrations, including those for Presidents Carter, Bush, and Biden, told Fox News Digital that unifying themes, rather than partisan defiance, make State of the Union addresses memorable.
Judge also stressed that understanding both the public and political opposition should inform how Trump frames his speech. "Know the president, know the administration, know the public — where is the public at any one moment? Where are the Democrats? What are they trying to do — and how do we disarm their arguments?" he told the media outlet.
Other presidential speechwriters interviewed by Fox News Digital offered cautionary notes about the unique demands of a State of the Union address. Former Jimmy Carter speechwriter James Fallows said that while Trump's rally-style approach has been effective politically, a State of the Union requires a broader appeal and a desire to unify rather than divide.
Dan Cluchey, a speechwriter for former President Joe Biden, told Fox News Digital that he doubted Trump would be able to give an effective address. He said, "President Biden has a deep reverence for both the constitutional role of Congress and the dignity of the presidential office, so he approached the State of the Union as an opportunity to rise above the fray and bring Americans together." He added that Trump sticking to the script would be a novelty.
