STATE OF THE UNION PREVIEW: Trump will not focus on Israel tonight but on ‘red-hot’ US economy, next steps on tariffs, and looming Iran threat

WASHINGTON, DC — I was asked this morning on a nationally syndicated radio show whether Israel will be a major topic tonight during the 2026 State of the Union address.

But I may have surprised the host and her audience by saying no, I don’t think so.

Israel will likely be mentioned but will not likely be a major focus.

Rather, President Donald J. Trump will focus most of his time on how his policies have created a “red-hot” American economy that roared 5.4% last quarter, a Dow racing to 50,000, $9.6 trillion in new investments over the past year, and tariffs that have brought in some $240 billion in revenue, helping reduce the federal deficit.

All that is a very big deal – and Trump will talk a lot about it tonight, as he should.

WHAT DID I SAY TO EVANGELICAL RADIO HOST JENNA ELLIS?

“The State of the Union is tonight, with President Trump addressing Congress at 9 p.m. EST – so what, if any, discussion may he have on foreign policy and particularly on Israel?” asked Jenna Ellis, the Evangelical host of the morning show on American Family Radio, noting that Israel “has been a really hot topic” in the news of late.

“Let's welcome in Joel Rosenberg, who is the editor-in-chief of ALL ISRAEL NEWS. You can find that at www.ALLISRAELNEWS.com. Joel, I think this is really a fascinating topic. Do you expect that we will hear anything on Israel from President Trump tonight?”

“I don't think Israel will be a prime focus, Jenna,” I replied.

“The president doesn't want to position his policy in the Middle East as being somehow driven by Bibi Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, or being driven by Israel. There are so many allegations to that extent. But it's not true.”

“Yes, Israel will definitely benefit if President Trump destroys the last of the Iranian regime's military offensive capabilities – there's no question about that,” I noted.

“But who else benefits? The United States benefits.”

WATCH FOR TRUMP TO LAY OUT HIS CASE AGAINST THE IRANIAN REGIME

When it comes to foreign policy, the big focus tonight will be the looming Iran threat.

“Iran's regime has killed and wounded more Americans than any other country in the world over the last 47 years, and they've never paid a price,” I noted.

“So, I think Iran will be a major focus,” I said, adding that “we're at a moment where we're waiting to hear, what is his [Trump’s] next move, right?”

“Is he going to make a deal with the Iranian regime? I don't think so. But he certainly has been trying.”

“So, I don't think Israel will be the focus. I think Iran will be the focus when it comes to the Middle East. Obviously, Communist China. And Venezuela.”

I fully expect that the Commander-in-Chief will explain to the American people why he has sent a massive number of U.S. Navy ships, two aircraft carrier strike groups, along with bombers, fighter jets, and missile defense batteries to the Middle East.

How serious is the threat posed by Iran?

What are the stakes?

And should any of this matter to American national security, American national interests, and America’s most trusted allies?

Watch for Trump to lay out his case clearly and carefully tonight.

TRUMP IS MANAGING A “RED-HOT ECONOMY” AND HE WILL MAKE A BIG DEAL OF THIS TONIGHT

The biggest focus of the president tonight, I told Jenna, “will be domestic – the economy roaring and jobs being created and so forth.”

Let’s consider this for a moment, because all American allies – including Israel – benefit when the American economy is strong.

And after terrible years of COVID and inflation, the U.S. economy is back and bigger than ever.

Larry Kudlow, the Fox Business host who used to serve as senior economic advisor to President Trump, said the other day, “the U.S. economy is hot – it isn’t just hot – it’s red hot.”

He’s right.

The fourth-quarter GDP growth was 5.4%.

That’s almost unprecedented in American history.

And experts say it might have been 1.5% higher if the longest government shutdown in American history hadn’t occurred.

That’s why President Trump will use the State of the Union to sell the Trump economic boom, and the numbers are on his side, says Kudlow. “Take-home pay is on the rise, and inflation rates are coming down.”

“And I want to remind everyone about the greatest story never told: sinking oil prices is a positive oil shock, which means it’s like a big tax cut for consumers and businesses, which is to say Trump deflation is replacing Biden inflation,” argues Kudlow.

“And a whiff of deflation from oil after nearly five years of COVID-era, Biden inflation is a very big positive for the economy.”

“Democrats are absolutely frozen in place and paralyzed over the success of President Trump’s economic policies: supply-side tax cuts, deregulation, ‘drill, baby, drill,’ and free and fair reciprocal trade.”

Kudlow adds: “A Trump economic boom could deliver 5%, 6%, or even 7% growth – there are numbers out today that are uniformly stronger than even I thought. Economists take note: Mr. Trump knows the economy better than you do. And what’s wrong with 5%, or better, growth?”