Trump takes a conciliatory tone
• President needs support to turn plans into legislation
US President Donald Trump showed a different side in his first address to Congress. This Trump was part deal-maker, part salesman, asking for unity and trying to repackage his populist message in more palatable terms. He was less combative, less thin-skinned and more inclusive.
And where five weeks ago at his inauguration he slammed Washington’s politicians as outof-touch elitists, his message on Tuesday night was different: I need you, Republicans and Democrats alike.
He laid out plenty of promises: a hue infrastructure and public works programme; tax cuts for the middle class; immigration reform; a health- care overhaul; an education bill. All of it will require congressional action, probably by different coalitions of conservatives, moderates and Democrats.
“This is our vision. This is our mission,” Trump said. “But we can only get there together.”
Trump, who has taunted Democrats over his election victory, did not criticise them this time. Repeatedly, he asked for their help, arguing that the country’s problems called for bipartisan solutions.
“It was a softer tone and he gave a speech and not a tweet,” said Democratic Representative Peter Welch.
“The challenges are going to be the details on his policies.”
Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak said: “He was presidential tonight in a way he has not been before this.”
The address appeared to show some recognition by the White House that Trump’s bombastic go-it-alone style has its limits. After a parade of executive orders, Trump must now turn his attention to the bigticket items on his agenda requiring legislative action.
“He’s done all he can unilaterally,” said Bradley Blakeman, a former aide to former president George W Bush. “Now he needs to pass bills.” Even though Republicans controlled Congress, Blakeman said Trump needed Democrats to build a majority that would allow conservative Republicans to oppose some of his more centrist proposals, such as hefty infrastructure spending and talks on immigration reform.
“The president is as transactional a person as we’ve ever seen,” Blakeman said.
“He understands that you might not like this deal, but I need you for three other deals.”
SCEPTICAL
Despite the softer tone, Trump’s divisive policies and months of hostile rhetoric will not be forgotten by his adversaries.
On Wednesday, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed Trump’s speech as detached from reality, saying the softer tone did not match the administration’s hardline agenda. “His speeches are populist. They’re aimed at the working folks who supported him. But his governing and what he does is hard right, favouring special interests over the working class.”
Congressional Democrats liked Trump’s infrastructure programme, his child-care tax credit, his call to reduce the prices of prescription drugs and his vow to preserve some key elements of former president Barack Obama’s health insurance law. But Democrats remain troubled by Trump’s desire to slash domestic programmes in order to increase military spending, his plans to reduce taxes for the wealthy and corporations, and his aggressive policy on illegal immigrants.
To be sure, the more foreboding elements of Trump’s campaign rhetoric were still present, albeit slightly dialled-down. As he did during the campaign, he portrayed a country in ruinous economic shape and plagued by terrorism, drugs, gangs and illegal immigrants.
In coming days, the White House is likely to release a revised version of its travel ban, reigniting a controversy that overshadowed the first weeks of Trump’s presidency.
Trump came into the address struggling with public opinion. The most recent Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll found about 48% of Americans disapproved of Trump’s performance, with 46% backing him — poor numbers for a new president.
Mackowiak said Trump’s address could reverse his fortunes in a “crucial moment”, but John Geer, an expert on public opinion at Vanderbilt University, was not convinced. “He’s going to have to do more than give a speech.”
HIS GOVERNING AND WHAT HE DOES IS HARD RIGHT, FAVOURING SPECIAL INTERESTS OVER THE WORKING CLASS