State of the Union 2019: take aways from President Trump’s speech

Philly.com

WASHINGTON 2019-- President Donald Trump called for unity Tuesday night in his State of the Union address, though the reactions in Congress showed a Washington as divided as ever.

Here are four takeaways on the speech, the reaction, and what comes next.

A call for unity against two years of conflict

“Victory is not winning for our party. Victory is winning for our country,” Trump said early on, drawing bipartisan applause. The president who has proudly described himself as a counter-puncher later called for rejecting "the politics of revenge, resistance, and retribution.”

But after years of slashing political attacks, personal insults and demonizing undocumented immigrants and other groups, few Democrats were willing to listen. They said it will take more than one prepared speech for that.

“Bipartisanship isn’t a word on a teleprompter; it’s a continuous approach that aspires to unity," said Rep. Bill Pascrell (D., N.J.). “After two years of uninterrupted chaos and corruption, I know better than to take at face value anything this man tells us.”

The president’s call for togetherness came in his first address to Congress since Democrats took control of the House. On the Democratic side of the aisle, he faced a sea of women, wearing all white in tribute to women’s suffrage activists, which created a stark visual manifestation of the backlash Trump has engendered in parts of the country. Many of them were elected in direct response to his presidency.

Behind Trump sat Nancy Pelosi, the new House speaker, who wore a poker face.

Trump did point to one major bipartisan policy deal he helped secure -- a criminal sentencing reform he signed last year -- but with 2020 campaigns already springing into action, he faces a short window to add further legislative achievements before he stands for reelection.

Despite his speech, there is little goodwill.

“It seems every year the president wakes up and discovers the desire for unity on the morning of the State of the Union. Then the president spends the other 364 days of the year dividing us and sowing a state of disunion,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said on the Senate floor hours before the speech.

Trump fired back on Twitter that Schumer was “just upset that he didn’t win the Senate, after spending a fortune.”

I see Schumer is already criticizing my State of the Union speech, even though he hasn’t seen it yet. He’s just upset that he didn’t win the Senate, after spending a fortune, like he thought he would. Too bad we weren’t given more credit for the Senate win by the media!

-- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 5, 2019

That’s the more typical exchange -- and likely a hint that a change in tone is unlikely, no matter the words on one night.

Immigration clash continues

The stark divides have been most recently crystallized by the 35-day shutdown that only recently ended -- and that could be restarted if Congress and Trump can’t agree to a government funding deal by Feb. 15.

Trump hinted that if he can’t get the billions of dollars he wants for his promised wall along the southwestern border, he is prepared to declare a government emergency to get it done, calling undocumented immigration “an urgent national crisis.”

“I will get it built,” he said. “Walls work, and walls save lives.”

Trump even offered a few rare words of praise for immigrants, saying “legal immigrants enrich our nation and strengthen our society in countless ways.”

He pivoted back, however, to warning of an immigrant caravan, gang members, and blaming “criminal illegal aliens” for murders, pointing to a woman, Debra Bissell, whose parents were killed by an undocumented immigrant.

Democrats applauded Bissell, but groaned through much of the section on immigration, believing Trump has unfairly demonized a large group over a small fraction who commit serious crimes. Republicans who want to get tough at the border heartily applauded.

The issue seems no closer to a resolution.

Economy

Trump took a victory lap on the strong economy -- an issue some Republicans wished he would have highlighted during the 2018 midterms instead of focusing on immigration.

“We are considered far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world. Unemployment has reached the lowest rate in half a century. African American, Hispanic American and Asian American unemployment have all reached their lowest levels ever recorded,” Trump said.

Democrats point out that the economic gains began under President Barack Obama, and by some measures were stronger during the end of his tenure.

But even as Trump’s critics say his policies may ultimately slow the economy, statistics show continued job growth. With Trump’s poll numbers and favorability ratings down, the economic gains may be his strongest path toward reelection. He put them front and center Tuesday night.

Again, the recurring question: Will he stay on that message when other battles tempt him? Usually, he hasn’t.

Space for deals? Drugs, infrastructure, family leave

While much of the policy was directed toward Republican applause lines -- including a call to ban late-term abortions -- Trump did nod to a few issues where cooperation with a Democratic House might be possible.

He called for an infrastructure program, an idea Democrats support, but offered just a few lines and no specific plan for an idea that has languished so far. He drew bipartisan cheers by calling for taking steps to reduce the price of prescription drugs, an issue also championed by many of Congress' most liberal members, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind., Vt.). And he called for a paid leave program for new mothers.

If Trump follows through on any of those ideas, he could deliver on some of his populist promises and might find some agreement with Democrats.

As with every State of the Union, the test comes when a president has to decide whether to put muscle behind the ideas, or leave them as lines in a speech.

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