President Donald J. Trump delivered his third State of the Union address on the evening of February 4th, 2020. Although many presidential engagements captivate public interest, this speech was particularly anticipated. Prior to this occasion, a President had never addressed a joint session of Congress on the eve of the final vote in his impeachment trial. Thus, over 37 million viewers tuned in to this year’s State of the Union address. However, despite the unique circumstances of the address, its content was customary. Conforming to precedents, President Trump recounted the accomplishments of his Administration, recognized honorable citizens, and outlined the goals of his for the remainder of the term. Indeed, the speech was remarkable, not for unusual content, but for the cloud of political controversy eclipsing the chamber itself.
Tangible Tension
Traditionally, the President is flanked by the Vice President and Speaker of the House as he delivers the State of the Union address. This year was no exception, and many political commentators noted tension between President Trump and Speaker Pelosi. Rigidity was expected, as Pelosi enabled House Democrats to pass the articles of impeachment. As the President mounted the rostrum to deliver his address, he appeared to ignore the Speaker’s offered handshake. In turn, she made disapproving facial expressions throughout the remarks, and declined to clap as the President touted various administrative successes. Before she dismissed the House chamber, Pelosi tore into the speech — quite literally; she ripped up her copy of the transcript.
Declarations of Disapproval
This action drew sharp criticism from politicians on both sides of the aisle. The following morning, Vice President Mike Pence declared, “I think it was a new low. I wasn’t sure if she was ripping up the speech or ripping up the Constitution” (Real Clear Politics). Democratic Congressman Cunningham stated, “Look, I disapprove of the president snubbing her handshake. I disapprove of her tearing up the speech” (Daily Mail). On Thursday February 6th, Republican Congressman issued a resolution condemning Pelosi’s behavior during the State of the Union address. While this measure was ultimately rejected by House Democrats, it is clear that the speech-ripping was widely debated.
Speech Specifics
Despite the tension in the chamber, the address was very well-received by members of the Republican Party. Polls revealed that President Trump’s overall job approval rating increased after his speech (The Hill). A Hill-HarrisX poll indicates that the rating spiked a total of three points the following day. Republicans presumably appreciated the address because it emphasized the Trump Administration’s advancement of conservative policies.
The first portion of the address concerned economic progress. President Trump announced that “[w]e have created 5.3 million new jobs and, importantly, added 600,000 new manufacturing jobs … Wages are rising at the fastest pace in decades and growing for blue-collar workers, who I promised to fight for.” He proceeded to report that a record number of Americans have been lifted off of food stamps, and that unemployment rates have reached all-time lows for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans, and disabled Americans. The President also highlighted his signature tax cuts, deregulation, and the removal of Obamacare’s individual mandate penalty.
As he pivoted from economic commentary to other topics, President Trump proclaimed that “The state of our union is strong.” This statement was met with chants of “U.S.A! U.S.A!” from Republican Congressmen and Senators throughout the chamber. The President then recounted his measures to combat the opioid crisis, and the historic passage of the VA Accountability First Act. He transitioned to criminal justice reform, and recognized special guest Alice Johnson, a former inmate. The President explained that he pardoned Johnson because she unjustly received a life sentence for a first-time, nonviolent offense.
Throughout the evening, the President spotlighted the tragedies and accomplishments of other special guests. These included the interim President of Venezuela, Holocaust survivor Joshua Kaufman, and the oldest surviving airman from the Tuskegee tribe, Charles McGee. Emotions ran high when President Trump recognized political commentator Rush Limbaugh, who is suffering from advanced lung cancer. Limbaugh was surprised with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom, which Melania bestowed upon him as he received a standing ovation.
The remainder of the speech focused on military and diplomatic advancements, and immigration policy. President Trump proudly described the establishment of a sixth branch of the United States Armed Forces, the Space Force. He also disclosed that the U.S. military has liberated nearly all of the Iraqi and Syrian territory previously occupied by ISIS. In keeping with his campaign promise, the Commander in Chief announced that he is recalling thousands of troops home from Syria. He is also pursuing political settlements with several Afghan groups, such as the Taliban. He praised his Administration’s discipline of the Iranian regime, emphasizing the heavy sanctions enforced last fall, and the discontinuation of President Obama’s Iranian nuclear deal. Finally, the President announced that over 90 miles of wall have been constructed along the southern border, indicating the success of his signature infrastructure project.
An Eye to the Future
The official White House press release concerning the President’s remarks states that “… President Trump had a simple, powerful message for his second State of the Union Address: Choosing Greatness.” This theme reflects his original promise to “Make America Great Again,” which defined his 2016 campaign and shaped the policy goals of his first term. The concept of American greatness is also the focal point of his re-election campaign; his new objective is to “Keep America Great!” Thus, if re-elected, his second term will likely follow a similar trajectory to the first, with heavy emphasis on tax cuts, job production, and immigration. The President will probably pursue incomplete goals from his first term, and launch additional initiatives to address current issues.
As President Trump completes the final year of his term, he plans to oversee the completion of several projects. With the impeachment proceedings over and acquittal secured, he seems especially invigorated and motivated to fulfill his mission. The day following the acquittal, the President is particularly determined to advance construction of the border wall, immigration reform, and stability in the Middle East. Additionally, some commentators have speculated that the President will launch investigations into corruption and scandals on the democratic side.
Political and Historical Significance
This year’s State of the Union Address shed light on the political dynamics between President Trump and members of Congress from both parties. Democratic colleagues made it abundantly clear that they disapprove of the President’s policies both present and future, as they declined to clap at various points throughout the speech. Conversely, Congressional Republicans expressed impassioned support for the President, giving consistent standing ovations, and calling for “Four more years!” of his leadership. The President revealed that impeachment has not weakened his resolve to continue his mission. In fact, the proceedings have seemingly emboldened his resolve and rallied the support of his Congressional allies. Republican enthusiasm for the address has granted the President political momentum for the final year of the term, and excited the party for his re-election campaign.
All told, it is clear that this State of the Union speech was a crescendo in the Trump presidency, and will thus become a notable point in presidential history. It served as an early victory lap for President Trump and most of the Republican Senators, who secured the President’s acquittal the very next day. The outcome of Election Day will further define the historical significance of this speech. If voters elect a new president, it will be remembered as a controversial opening to the final year of the Trump Administration. Should voters re-elect President Trump, the address will be considered a climactic midpoint in a two-term presidency.
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