Defense, foreign policy issues to watch for in Trump’s speech

The president is expected to tout his sweeping efforts to reshape the government, crack down on immigration and reorient U.S. foreign policy on the heels of an Oval Office spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Among the things to watch for in his prime-time speech will be how he defends the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), run by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, despite widespread controversy over the manner in which agencies, including the Defense Department and Department of Veteran Affairs, are being slashed and workers fired on the spot.

There’s ongoing concerns from Democrats and some Republicans about the scope of the cuts that DOGE is implementing, especially as the team has overhauled the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development — a critical tool in soft foreign power.

The speech also comes right on the heels of Trump’s Monday night move pausing aid to Ukraine in an about-face of U.S. foreign policy amid his public clash with Zelensky late last week.

Trump also called off peace talks with Zelensky but said Monday that a minerals deal was not completely off the table.

Trump’s remarks may provide more clarity on the path forward for U.S. policy toward Ukraine.

The president said a proposed deal for the U.S. to invest in Ukraine’s critical mineral supply was still possible, but that Zelensky “should be more appreciative” if he wants to restart talks.

Some Republicans have in recent days suggested Zelensky was not the right leader for Kyiv moving forward, while Democrats have warned the Trump administration is playing into Russia’s hands.