After a tumultuous first year in office, President Donald Trump is slated to deliver his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, picking up the metaphorical torch in the annual tradition from the many men who have come before.

The event is sure to attract a lot of attention, with many of Mr Trump’s critics parsing his words for any perceived misstep from the norms American presidents have bowed to in the past. Meanwhile, supporters are sure to cheer his message and vision for the future.

Will Mr Trump tell us that the state of the union is “strong”? Will he instead tell us it is “great” (again)?

Here’s what you need to know.

When is the State of the Union?

Mr Trump’s State of the Union will begin on Tuesday, January 30 at 9 pm EST.

Trump Inauguration protests around the World Show all 14 1 /14 Trump Inauguration protests around the World Trump Inauguration protests around the World Activists from Greenpeace display a message reading "Mr President, walls divide. Build Bridges!" along the Berlin wall in Berlin on January 20, 2017 to coincide with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United State Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World An activist holds up a sign at the "We Stand United" rally on the eve of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration outside Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York on January 19, 2017 in New York Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters burn a U.S. flag and a mock flag with pictures of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump outside the U.S. embassy in metro Manila, Philippines Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Filipino protestors hold placcards during a protest rally in front of the US embassy in Manila, Philippines, 20 January 2017. On the eve of President-elect Donald Trump's inaguration as the 45th president of the United States, Filipinos and Fil-Americans held a protest in front of the US embassy in Manila to denounce the incoming US president. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Hong Kong police officers and security guards look on as an anarchist protester belonging to the Disrupt J20 movement sits after using a heavy duty D-lock and motorcycle lock to chain himself to a railing at the entrance gate to the Consulate General of the United States of America in Hong Kong to protest the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump, Hong Kong, China, 20 January 2017. Two activists were arrested and taken away by Hong Kong police during the demonstration. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A banner is unfurled on London's Tower Bridge, organised by Bridges Not Walls - a partnership between grassroots activists and campaigners working on a range of issues, formed in the wake of Donald Trump's election, which aims to build bridges to a world free from hatred and oppression. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Protesters chain themselves to an entry point prior at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, DC, U.S. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Bridges Not Walls banner dropped from Molenbeek bridge in Brussels, Belgium, 20 January 2017, in an Greenpeace action part of protests Wolrd protest in solidarity with people in the US, the day Donald Trump sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds an anti-U.S. President-elect Donald Trump placard during a rally in Tokyo, Japan, Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A Palestinian protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Banners on North Bridge in Edinburgh as part of the Bridges Not Walls protest against US President Donald Trump on the day of his inauguration Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World Russian artist Vasily Slonov (L) and his assistant carry a life-sized cutout, which is an artwork created by Slonov and titled "Siberian Inauguration", before its presentation on the occasion of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in a street in Krasnoyarsk, Russia Getty Trump Inauguration protests around the World A woman holds a banner during a march to thank outgoing President Barack Obama and reject US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration at a park in Tokyo, Japan, 20 January 2017. EPA Trump Inauguration protests around the World Palestinian demonstrators protesting this week against a promise by Donald Trump to re-locate the US embassy to Jerusalem Reuters

Where is the State of the Union?

On the night of the State of the Union, Mr Trump will leave the White House in his motorcade and take the short trip across town to the US Capitol. There, he will be greeted by an assembly composed of both the House and Senate, and in the House chambers.

How to watch the State of the Union?

All of the major US cable networks will run the State of the Union, and it can also be streamed online on CSPAN.

Are there any State of the Union traditions?

Aside from the speech itself, sure.

The opposing party always picks someone to broadcast their own counter State of the Union — this year’s pick hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s likely that it will be a potential 2020 presidential contender — giving a lucky someone the opportunity to deliver a riling opposing point of view (or, a hilarious gaffe).

The American public has made it a tradition to dream up their best drinking games to get through the speech, making it something of a tradition in and of itself to get a little tipsy while the President talks about national security threats.

The President also traditionally picks special guests to attend, highlighting the policies and goals they plan on pursuing in the process. On the other side, the minority party does the same.

What is rumoured to be included in Donald Trump's State of the Union speech?

While the exact contents of the State of the Union are generally kept under wraps until the moment of the speech, presidents generally highlight their victories of the past year, the challenges the nation faces ahead, and what they’re going to do about it.

Mr Trump is likely to lean on some of his campaign talking points during the event, and to highlight the policy achievements he’s been able to deliver (or at least claim). That could include tax reforms that were pushed through Congress in December, a burgeoning stock market, his crackdown on immigration, and the seating of Supreme Court Judge Neil Gorsuch.

As for what he’ll say is ahead, you can bet that he’s going to try and bolster his case for voters to vote Republican in the coming midterm elections.

That could include renewed calls for repealing and replacing Obamacare, his plans for reforming American regulations, and could also include promises that he’ll help renew the floundering economies of rural America that showed up at the polls in 2016 to deliver Mr Trump’s win.

Last year, during a joint address to Congress, Mr Trump promised the tax reforms, the repeal and replace of Obamacare, a change to the US immigrant visa programs to favor high-skilled workers, and for his famous border wall to be built.

Will the State of the Union be “strong”?

The state of the union is pretty much always strong. President Barack Obama said it was every single year. So did President George W Bush, even when he spoke months after the September 11 attacks. President Bill Clinton did the same.