OPINION:
Most State of the Union addresses are forgettable the moment they end. Not this one.
President Trump delivered a consequential speech that highlighted what he believes are some of his major accomplishments during the first year of his second term. He also demonstrated a flair for the dramatic.
It was likely the most partisan message of its kind ever delivered by a president. He frequently criticized the Democrats who bothered to attend (more than 70 members didn’t), calling them “crazy” and accusing them of favoring open borders and higher taxes. He also criticized the Supreme Court for its ruling against his tariff policy.
Four justices showed up and sat expressionless. They were among the first to flee when the speech ended. The president said he has found a way around their ruling and that the income from tariffs will eventually “balance the budget” and eventually eliminate the federal income tax. One issue he failed to address was spending.
The biggest drivers of debt are Social Security and Medicare, both of which are in desperate need of reform. Apparently not wishing to give Democrats an issue to use against Republicans in the November elections, Mr. Trump promised not to touch either benefit program.
On the issue of “affordability,” a word he said was created by Democrats, the president said prices are coming down. He mentioned gasoline, now under $2 a gallon in some places. He said egg prices have “come down 60%,” as have mortgage rates, and promised that beef prices will soon drop.
The president made a strong case for closing the southern border and deporting migrants who committed crimes on U.S. soil. He introduced several relatives of people who were murdered by “illegal aliens.” He challenged Democrats to stand if they opposed such people coming into the country. It appeared few, if any, stood.
“How can you not stand?” he shouted.
He introduced the pilot who flew a Chinook helicopter into Caracas to extract President Nicolas Maduro and bring him to the U.S. to stand trial. Eric Slover, whose name had not been made public until Tuesday night, was severely wounded in his legs, and Mr. Trump awarded him the Congressional Medal of Honor, as he did World War II Capt. Royce Williams, who also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Mr. Williams was honored for a previously classified 1952 dogfight during which he engaged seven Soviet jets alone.
Mr. Trump again asked Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, requiring people to show a government-issued identification document, along with proof of citizenship, before voting because “Democrats cheat.”
He criticized members of Minnesota’s Somali community and blamed some for “pillaging $19 billion” of taxpayer money. He said other states, including California and Massachusetts, were “even worse.”
He promised to “never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” Given the enormous buildup of ships, planes and other military equipment in the region, the threat was obvious. The president said he prefers a diplomatic agreement, but that would have to include a pledge by Iran not to build nuclear bombs.
Yet he said the world’s top sponsor of terrorism already has intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the U.S. Given such statements, it would appear that an attack could occur at any time.
Democrats mostly sat in silence except when the U.S. Olympic hockey team was introduced and on a small number of other occasions. Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California — whom Mr. Trump criticized by name when he called for a ban on insider trading by members of Congress (some Republicans have accused Mrs. Pelosi and her husband of engaging in such activity) — and some other Democrats had tags on their clothes that said, “Release the Epstein Files.”
The name Epstein was blacked out to resemble the redactions in some of the files that have been released.
The speech is likely to be discussed and debated for weeks and possibly months to come. It was petty for so many Democrats not to attend. The pollsters will soon tell us whether the speech boosted the president’s low approval ratings.
• Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book, “A Watchman in the Night: What I’ve Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America” (Humanix Books).
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