On this day in 1790, George Washington, the first President of the United States, delivered the first-ever State of the Union address to the US Congress.
The State of the Union is a constitutional requirement, obliging the US president to inform lawmakers about the condition of the nation and outline priorities for legislation and policy.
In Washington’s time, the address was given in person and without ceremony, lasting only a few minutes. There were no television broadcasts, no applause lines, and no political theatrics – simply a formal report to Parliament-like legislators on the challenges facing the new republic.
Over time, the State of the Union evolved into a major annual political event, setting out the president’s agenda and signalling policy direction at home and abroad. Today, it is broadcast worldwide and closely watched for clues about US domestic and foreign policy.
Washington’s first address established a tradition that continues more than two centuries later, a reminder of how early American political customs still shape modern governance.
Why it matters
The State of the Union address matters far beyond the United States because it reflects how power is exercised in modern democracies.
First, it established the idea that a head of state must publicly account for their actions before elected representatives. At the time, this was far from universal. In much of the world, rulers governed without formal explanations or legislative scrutiny. The tradition set by George Washington helped normalise executive accountability as a democratic principle.
Second, the address shaped how political priorities are communicated. Over time, the State of the Union became a model for similar speeches in other countries, where leaders outline legislative goals, signal policy direction, and frame national challenges in a single, formal address.
Finally, because the United States plays a central role in global politics, the speech often signals shifts in foreign policy, economic strategy, and international alliances. What is announced in Washington frequently has consequences well beyond US borders- including for Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.
In short, what began in 1790 as a brief report to lawmakers evolved into a political ritual that continues to influence how governments explain themselves to the people they govern.
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