Fact-checking Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union Address: Time and Viewing Guide

PolitiFact Gears Up for Live Fact-Checking of Trump’s State of the Union Address

PolitiFact is preparing to deliver real-time fact-checking of President Donald Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address to Congress on February 24. Drawing upon an extensive archive of over 1,100 previously fact-checked statements from Trump since 2011, the organization stands ready to verify the accuracy of his claims throughout the evening.

The address will be broadcast on all major network and cable news channels starting at 9 p.m. EST, with the White House YouTube channel also providing a livestream. Viewers interested in following PolitiFact’s analysis can access live fact-checks on their website and across multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).

For those unable to watch the event live, PolitiFact offers a morning roundup of the night’s most significant claims through their weekly newsletter. Viewers can also suggest specific statements for fact-checking by submitting questions through a dedicated form or by email.

The State of the Union address represents a constitutional obligation, outlined in Article II, which requires the president to periodically inform Congress about the nation’s status and recommend necessary measures. House Speaker Mike Johnson formally invited Trump to deliver this address on January 7.

Following longstanding tradition, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic rebuttal to Trump’s speech. However, some Democratic lawmakers have already announced plans to boycott the address in favor of alternative events near the U.S. Capitol, highlighting the deep political divisions that continue to characterize Washington.

The address presents Trump with an opportunity to showcase his administration’s accomplishments during his second term thus far. PolitiFact is actively monitoring 75 of his presidential campaign promises through their “MAGA-Meter” tracking system, providing a comprehensive assessment of which promises have been kept, broken, or remain in progress.

For this event, PolitiFact’s team has developed extensive preparation, compiling a list of anticipated statements from the president. When hearing a checkable claim, fact-checkers will first consult their archive of previous fact-checks. If the statement has been previously verified, they will quickly share that information via their live blog and social media channels.

New claims require a more thorough investigation, with reporters analyzing data, consulting experts, and carefully evaluating accuracy using PolitiFact’s Truth-O-Meter rating system. This methodical approach ensures that viewers receive reliable, evidence-based assessments of presidential statements in near real-time.

The State of the Union address comes at a significant moment in American politics, offering insights into the administration’s priorities and policy direction. For voters and citizens, independent fact-checking services like PolitiFact provide a crucial tool for cutting through rhetoric and evaluating the factual basis of presidential claims.

As political polarization continues to challenge American democracy, reliable fact-checking has become increasingly essential for maintaining an informed citizenry. By providing this service during high-profile political events, organizations like PolitiFact help ensure that public discourse remains grounded in verifiable facts rather than unchecked assertions.

The real-time nature of this fact-checking effort represents the evolution of political journalism in the digital age, where information—and misinformation—can spread rapidly across multiple platforms. Through comprehensive preparation and methodical verification, PolitiFact aims to serve as a reliable guide through the complex landscape of political rhetoric that characterizes these major addresses.