My Analysis of Trump's Address to a Joint Congress

After around a month and a half of the term of President Trump as the 47th President, he delivered a State of the Union-esque Address to a Joint Session of Congress.

At a time when many Americans are adamant that President Trump is making great successes that have never seen before, others are adamant that Donald Trump is doing irreparable damage. The public's reaction to the early parts of the Trump presidency is still divided, in spite of his landslide victory in November. President Trump has removed the U.S. from several international partnerships and organizations like the W.H.O.; he has stopped all aid to Ukraine and pressured their President Zelenskyy to make concessions for peace; placed Tariffs on trade partners both adversary and ally, and he's even placed the richest man in the world in charge of making recommendations and audits on slashing the massive amount of federal budget waste. Are all these things wins? Are all these things bad decisions? I truly believe that anyone who would say that everything that any President does is totally good or totally bad for our country, is either misinformed or being dishonest with themself. The Presidents of our country are human, and being human it's never quite that simple.

God did not make us perfect, but rather gave us the freedom to make choices. Our choices define our character, but these choices also have consequences that aren't always based on character. I would argue that some of the best humans have been some of the worst presidents. Like Jimmy Carter, for whom I recently visited the Presidential Library. I don't believe Donald Trump is an example that parents would point to and encourage their children to emulate in morality, but I do believe his 1st Presidency was successful for the American people, and I'm hoping that the 2nd will be the same.

Still, Trump can divide people through his bold rhetoric.

His speech to the nation saw Members of Congress escorted out for heckling, while others stood out and walked out in protest. While Democrats wore attire and held signs to protest, Republicans stood and cheered for everything Trump said. But it's never simple and predictable when Trump is President.

Trump is a fantastic speaker, which I believe to be the biggest part of his popularity. It's how he set himself apart from the crowd in 2016. It's not the eloquent words he chooses, but rather the humorous nature and way he connects to his audience. He's not afraid to insult his opposition, and his fans find it amusing in the same way folks react to shows like Wild'N Out or Jerry Springer. He had several one-liners throughout the speech, like when he joked to HHS Secretary Kennedy that "our country is healthier than we thought" after reading that Social Security Administration has 160+ year olds on file.

Some wholesome moments took place, like when Trump made a 12 year old with brain cancer a Secret Service "agent." He also told a High-School athlete that his West Point application has been accepted, when touting rising military enlistment rates. He also celebrated the return of hostages, like Marc Fogel who is an American school teacher that was held captive by Russia until President Trump negotiated his return. Trump also highlighted the American legend throughout his speech and especially at the end when he listed victories in war, innovation, and exploration in American history.

Trump says he wants to continue to bring America to its "Golden Age". I believe his domestic policies can help do that, but he has to be more careful with his rhetoric. Trump needs to not just preach unity and American greatness, but advocate it by encouraging civil discourse and rising above his opposition's hatred for him, rather than stooping to their level. That being said, his early accomplishments look promising, and despite the critical rhetoric of the media, I'm confident in many elements of the start of his second term.

It was a good speech, definitely toned down compared to some of the President's recent social media statements. He announced some progress after that discomforting meeting with Ukraine last week, and made a firm statement that he wants peace between both nations rather than to punish Ukraine for disrespecting the US. He appealed more toward the moderate right in this speech, and I think it made him and our country look better after a volatile week. I give the speech a B-. I think there is certainly room for improvement in the President's rhetoric; but his humor and calmer tone tonight definitely helped ease the minds of some of his more moderate voters like myself who might've begun to feel uncomfortable after some of his statements from the past month.

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-SA