Donald Trump’s annual State of the Union address will bring him face-to-face with Nancy Pelosi, reportedly for the first time since an incendiary meeting in which he called her a “third-rate politician” and Democrats stormed out.

The House Speaker described the president as having a “meltdown” at the October meeting – which came just weeks after she called the impeachment inquiry, and hours after the House voted overwhelmingly to condemn his decision to pull troops out of northern Syria.

Mr Trump then tried to mock Ms Pelosi using an image of her admonishing him across the Cabinet Room table, captioning it: “Nervous Nancy’s unhinged meltdown.” Ms Pelosi adopted it as her Twitter cover photo.

Despite months of impeachment drama, accompanied by a string of blistering attacks emanating from the president’s Twitter account at “Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats” and “Crazy Nancy”, Ms Pelosi’s aides told CNN the pair have not directly crossed paths since the meeting.

Mr Trump is expected to promote bipartisan unity and “relentless optimism” in his State of the Union address.

Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan TOPSHOT - Palestinian demonstrators chant slogans and wave Palestinian flags as they stand by flaming tyres during a protest against US President Donald Trump's expected peace plan proposal in Gaza City on January 28, 2020. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images) MAHMUD HAMS AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in the West Bank against the expected peace plan proposal AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce Trump's Middle East peace plan in the White House AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinians protest as smoke rises from burning tires ahead of the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of his long-delayed Mideast peace plan, in Gaza City January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY MOHAMMED SALEM Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian demonstrators chant slogans as they stand by flaming tyres during a protest against US President Donald Trump's expected peace plan proposal in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip . - Palestinians staged protests against US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, hours before it was to be unveiled in Washington. Thousands demonstrated in Gaza, burning pictures of Trump and the American flag, while further rallies were planned for the coming days. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images) SAID KHATIB AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters wave the national flag during a demonstration in the West Bank city of Ramallah on January 28, 2020, against US President Donald Trump's expected peace plan proposal. - Palestinians staged protests against US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, hours before it was to be unveiled in Washington. Thousands demonstrated in Gaza, burning pictures of Trump and the American flag, while further rallies were planned for the coming days. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images) AHMAD GHARABLI AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan U.S. President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up while listening to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu address a joint news conference to discuss a new Middle East peace plan proposal in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid BRENDAN MCDERMID Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan epa08172847 Palestinians chant slogans during a protest against the so-called 'Deal of the Century', planned by Trump to solve the conflict between Palestinians and Israel, in the streets of Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 28 January 2020. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER MOHAMMED SABER EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan epa08172814 A Palestinian holds a banner reading in Arabic 'down with the deal of century' as people protest against the deal planned by Trump to solve the conflict between Palestinians and Israel, in the streets of Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 28 January 2020. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER MOHAMMED SABER EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump during a demonstration in the West Bank city of Ramallah on January 28, 2020, against the expected peace plan proposal. - Palestinians staged protests against US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, hours before it was to be unveiled in Washington. Thousands demonstrated in Gaza, burning pictures of Trump and the American flag, while further rallies were planned for the coming days. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images) AHMAD GHARABLI AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters wave the national flag during a demonstration in the West Bank city of Ramallah on January 28, 2020, against US President Donald Trump's expected peace plan proposal. - Palestinians staged protests against US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, hours before it was to be unveiled in Washington. Thousands demonstrated in Gaza, burning pictures of Trump and the American flag, while further rallies were planned for the coming days. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images) AHMAD GHARABLI AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan epa08172866 Palestinians set fire during a protest against the so-called 'Deal of the Century', planned by Trump to solve the conflict between Palestinians and Israel, in the streets of Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 28 January 2020. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER MOHAMMED SABER EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan epa08172871 Palestinians chant slogans during a protest against the so-called 'Deal of the Century', planned by Trump to solve the conflict between Palestinians and Israel, in the streets of Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 28 January 2020. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER MOHAMMED SABER EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan epa08172842 Palestinians protesters burn a poster depicting US President Donald Trump during a protest against the so-called 'Deal of the Century', planned by Trump to solve the conflict between Palestinians and Israel, in the streets of Gaza City, Gaza Strip, 28 January 2020. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER MOHAMMED SABER EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian demonstrators chant slogans as they stand by flaming tyres during a protest against US President Donald Trump's expected peace plan proposal in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip . - Palestinians staged protests against US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, hours before it was to be unveiled in Washington. Thousands demonstrated in Gaza, burning pictures of Trump and the American flag, while further rallies were planned for the coming days. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP) (Photo by SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images) SAID KHATIB AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters wave the national flag and a portrait of president Mahmud Abbas during a demonstration in the West Bank city of Ramallah on January 28, 2020, against US President Donald Trump's expected peace plan proposal. - Palestinians staged protests against US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, hours before it was to be unveiled in Washington. Thousands demonstrated in Gaza, burning pictures of Trump and the American flag, while further rallies were planned for the coming days. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images) AHMAD GHARABLI AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinians chant slogans as they demonstrate outside the local government headquarters in Tulkarmm, west of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, on January 28, 2020 against US President Donald Trump's expected peace plan proposal. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) (Photo by JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP via Getty Images) JAAFAR ASHTIYEH AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters chant angry slogans during a protest against the U.S. Mideast peace plan, in Gaza City, Monday, Jan. 28, 2020. U.S. President Donald Trump is set to unveil his administration's much-anticipated Mideast peace plan in the latest U.S. venture to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Khalil Hamra AP

But many predict he may be unable to resist complaining about the impeachment proceedings and making barbs at Democrats, particularly in the wake of the DNC’s Iowa caucuses debacle, in which he himself soared to victory.

The theme of Mr Trump’s annual address – his last unless re-elected for a second term – will be “the great American comeback”, which appears to be how Mr Trump and his allies view his near-inevitable acquittal on Wednesday after six months of heavy, often paralysing scrutiny.

The White House has promised “can-do optimism in the face of unjustified pessimism we are hearing from some in Congress”.

“We’re really looking to giving a very, very positive message,” Mr Trump told reporters during a Super Bowl party at his Florida golf club on Sunday.

Mr Trump will likely highlight the strength of the US economy and promote his efforts to limit migrants from crossing the US-Mexico border. He will also likely congratulate himself about the death of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and the assassination of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

But key allies have urged him to take the high road by not mentioning his impeachment, which he has often declared a “witch hunt”.

“I hope he will smother people with the milk of human kindness,” said Senator Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican and strong Trump supporter.

Mr Roberts said “some of us have urged” the president – who in his 2019 address lashed out at Robert Mueller and Democrats with thinly veiled references to “ridiculous partisan investigations” – to appear gracious about his impeachment.

Lindsey Graham, who has staunchly defended the president in recent months, said it would be “smart” for him to focus on other issues and suggested “most people” are ready to move on, adding: “I hope he is too, because I am.”

“I wouldn’t [bring up impeachment],” Marco Rubio told Axios. “We haven’t taken the vote yet and I think he has a lot of positive things to talk about ... I just think there’s no way you talk about impeachment and that not be the takeaway.”

But Democrats braced for attacks.

“I’d be surprised if he wasn’t bombastic and self-congratulatory,” Senator Chris Murphy told the Washington Post. “I’d be surprised if he didn’t take potshots at the press and Democrats and the impeachment managers. My expectations are so low these days.”

Video appears to show Trump messing around during Superbowl National Anthem

Ms Pelosi told the New York Times the House would treat him “as a guest ... and we hope he will behave as a guest”, before adding: “I think the spotlight that is on him will be very hot for him to handle.”

The dynamic between the pair has changed somewhat since Mr Trump’s 2019 State of the Union address.

Mr Trump had been recently humbled as Democrats seized the House. In her new role as House Speaker, Ms Pelosi had postponed his State of the Union address, before effectively convincing him to end his partial government shutdown without granting him funding for his US-Mexico border wall.

Adding further insult, during the president’s most watched TV moment of the year, Ms Pelosi stood up from her seat behind him to sarcastically applaud his calls to “reject the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution, and embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise and the common good”.

Nancy Pelosi applauds Donald Trump during the 2019 State of the Union address (Getty Images)

But 12 months later, Mr Trump appears arguably unscathed from his impeachment, on the verge of acquittal, with new Gallup polling on Monday delivering his highest approval rating since taking office, hitting 49 per cent.

On Monday, Mr Trump secured 97 per cent of the Republican vote in the Iowa caucuses, while the Democratic event descended into farce, after “inconsistencies” led to a disastrous delay in reporting the results.

“The Democrat Caucus is an unmitigated disaster. Nothing works, just like they ran the Country,” Mr Trump tweeted on Tuesday morning, as those around Mr Trump wondered whether he would stick to the script hours later.

White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley said he’d seen the speech, adding: “I’ve not seen the word ‘impeachment’. But, as the president likes to say, we’ll see what happens.”