WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared that the country is thriving, that his opponents are “crazy” and that his administration is engaged in unprecedented levels of “winning” in a provocative, marathon State of the Union address that comes as polls show him deeply skeptical of his leadership heading into a crucial midterm election.
The president has made a full-throated, intensely partisan defense of his policies amid a low point in his second term as he grapples with a major setback on tariffs, strong opposition to his immigration enforcement tactics, low approval ratings and other challenges at home and abroad, including a partial government shutdown and possible military conflict with Iran.
“We have achieved a transformation like no one has ever seen before, and a sea change for the ages,” Trump said during the nearly hour and 50 minute speech, the longest state of the Union in history, as he lashed out at Democrats he accused of “destroying our country.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called the speech a “state of delusion” as his party tries to wrest control of Congress and contain a president Democrats accuse of being out of touch with the economy and becoming increasingly authoritarian.
Trump sought to counter Americans’ vague views on his economic stewardship, which is expected to be the central issue in the midterm elections. Faced with widespread dissatisfaction with the cost of living, the president blamed Democrats for the problem and said his administration is working relentlessly to lower prices.
An event that has become increasingly theatrical and partisan — former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up a copy of Trump’s speech during his final State of the Union address — had dramatic moments and notable guests. Members of the gold medal-winning U.S. hockey team were in attendance. Many Democrats were not and skipped the speech en masse in protest against the administration’s policies.
These are the key lessons from Trump’s State of the Union address.
‘roaring economy’
Trump’s low approval rating on the economy poses a major challenge for the Republican Party heading into the midterm elections. The speech provided an excellent opportunity to try to change the narrative.
“The booming economy is roaring like never before,” Trump declared.
The president claimed victory in lowering the cost of living, pointing to gas and grocery prices, mortgage rates and rent. He also offered a rosy position that runs counter to public opinion and could pose risks to his party.
While many Americans gave the president poor marks for his handling of inflation in recent surveys, Trump continued to blame Democrats for the high costs, saying, “You created that problem.”
“Their policies created the high prices. Our policies will quickly put an end to them,” Trump added. “We are doing very well. Those prices are plummeting.”
Inflation cooled to 2.4% in January, but remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target.
Trump’s approach to the cost of living risks appearing out of touch with Americans’ financial concerns, an issue that plagued former President Joe Biden. That the issue remains front and center was evident from his remarks, in which he focused on the economy and highlighted policy proposals aimed at reducing costs, including targeting prescription drug prices, affordable housing and energy prices.
Stick to rates
Trump started the speech on his proverbial back foot after the Supreme Court struck down the sweeping emergency tariffs that had been the hallmark of his economic agenda.
Trump called the Supreme Court’s decision an “unfortunate ruling” and said he would soon institute a new tariff regime through other methods, which he said are “tried and approved.”
It was a much more sedate response than Trump’s initial response, in which he said he was ashamed of certain Supreme Court justices for “not having the courage to do what is right for our country.” As he entered the House chamber for his speech, Trump greeted and shook hands with the four Supreme Court justices present, including two conservative justices who ruled against him on tariffs, John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett.
As the administration considers some previously used tariff statutes, Trump for the first time invoked Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act to impose global tariffs of 10 percent, a number he said he could soon increase to 15 percent.
Trump said he would move forward with his tariffs without help from Congress, a comment that led to some grumbling from the House. Some Republicans have opposed the drastic nature of the tariffs — and sometimes voted against them.
“Congressional action will not be necessary,” he said.
‘sick people’
While criticism of the opposing party and their policies is normal in a State of the Union address, Trump took it to a previously unseen level, attacking Democrats as a whole and not just disagreeing with the policies they support.
The president repeatedly called Democrats “sick people,” criticized them for failing to express support for his immigration policies, and told them, “Shame on you.”
He also accused them of voter fraud.
“They want to cheat. They’ve cheated, and their policies are so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat, and we’re going to stop that,” Trump said.
At times, Trump seemed irritated that Democrats did not applaud during his speech. “How can you not stand?” he asked.
A rare moment of applause and standing ovation occurred when Trump urged lawmakers to pass a law banning them from profiting from insider information in the stock market.
Trump responded to the applause, saying, “They stood up for that, I can’t believe it.”
“Did Nancy Pelosi get up if she was here?” Trump was quick to joke. Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, is one of the wealthiest members of Congress. Her stock transactions are consistently monitored, but the outgoing congresswoman has not been investigated for insider trading.
A handful of Democrats interrupted the president’s speech with shouts and chants, ignoring encouragement from Democratic leaders to maintain decorum during Trump’s speech. Rep. Al Green, a Texas Democrat, was quietly removed at the start of the speech for holding a sign that read, “Black people are not monkeys.”
Trump largely flew past the outbursts.
American men’s hockey provides a moment of unity
In a speech that was often heavily partisan, a unifying moment came early as Trump welcomed the U.S. men’s hockey team.
The room erupted as the Olympic gold medal winners filed into the aisles of the House gallery, dressed in American sweatshirts and their medals around their necks. The victory over Canada gave U.S. hockey its first gold medal in men’s hockey since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” team defeated the Soviet Union in 1980, a victory steeped in Cold War patriotic fervor.
Trump linked the US victory to what he described as his administration’s “victory,” welcoming the players as “a group of winners who just made the entire nation proud.”
The president said he planned to award goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump also honored a World War II veteran, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and other Americans with inspiring stories that provided a break from some of the more combative moments in the speech and showed the kind of empathy Trump’s allies were hoping for.
What he didn’t say
Trump made no references to the biggest controversies that have marked his first year into his presidency. He did not discuss the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, even with more than a dozen survivors in the upper galleries as guests. Trump has previously said the country must move on now that a number of files have been declassified.
He spoke at length about Minnesota’s enforcement of mass immigration, but made no mention of the two Americans killed by federal agents while overseeing arrests in Minneapolis. The response to the fatalities prompted the partial government shutdown, for which he castigated Democrats.
Trump also did not highlight his repeated attempts to buy Greenland, nor the work of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which has dramatically shrunk the federal workforce.
State of the Union addresses are painstakingly pre-written and rarely address uncomplimentary topics, but Trump is known for going off script when he wants to, rarely shying away from a fight or an opportunity to feed his base.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Roaring economy’ and ‘sick’ Dems. Takeaways from Trump’s SOTU address
Reporting by Zac Anderson and Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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