State of Union address highlights economy
Trump speaks of unity in speech as divisions remain.
Urging WASHINGTON — Con-gress to “reject the politics of revenge, resistance and retribution,” President Donald Trump urged Congress Tuesday to approve his nominees, spend the money for his much-touted wall along the U.S.–Mexico border and stop investigating him.
Arguing that his administration is responsible for “an economic miracle,” he argued that “the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations.”
“If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation,” he said as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to suppress a laugh behind him.
Trump was hoping for unity
In a speech billed as aimed at unifying the country during one of its most politically divided moments in recent history, Trump urged Wash- ington to turn a corner and heal the divisions that literally brought large parts of the government to a halt during the first month of this year.
He urged the nation to “break decades of political stalemate, bridge old divi- sions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions, and unlock the extraordinary promise of America’s future.”
“Our most exciting jour- neys still await. Our biggest victories are still to come. We have not yet begun to dream,” he said, adding “We must choose whether we are defined by our differences — or whether we dare to tran- scend them.”
Yet for all his talk of unity, Trump plunged into the divi- sive issues of abortion rights and immigration, while suggesting that some Democrats are issuing “new calls to adopt socialism in our country.”
Trump goes after Socialist policies
Although no Democratic presidential candidate has adopted a Socialist platform, Trump declared to loud applause from Repub- lican lawmakers that “Amer- ica was founded on liberty and independence and not government coercion, domination, and control.
“We are born free, and we will stay free. Tonight, we renew our resolve that Amer- ica will never be a socialist country.”
He delivered his address at a time when his poll numbers are sagging and those of Pelosi, D-Calif., are rising. Voters clearly held Trump and the Republicans responsible for a partial shutdown of the federal government in December and January — the longest such shutdown in history.
Focus on growing economy
Despite t he polarized nature of Washington, the night had its moments of levity. When Trump pointed out that “no one has bene- fited more from our thriv- ing economy than women,” both sides of the chamber, including dozens of the newly elected Democratic women who helped win the House majority last fall, stood up and cheered enthusiastically.
“You weren’t supposed to do that,” Trump ad-libbed wryly.
But he decided to embrace the applause, telling the Democratic women, mostly dressed in white in honor of women’s suffrage, “don’t sit yet, you’re going to like this,” before pointing out that “exactly one century after the Congress passed the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote, we also have more women serving in the Congress than ever before.” The crowd erupted into chants of “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!”
Trump, who has made it clear in comments and tweets throughout his presidency that he does not believe he gets enough credit for the strong economy, once again defended his two-year-old presidency, saying “our economy is the envy of the world, our military is the most powerful on Earth by far, and America is again winning each and every day.”
But despite those achievements and the strong economy, Trump’s approval ratings have sagged, in large part because of his chaotic governing style.
Immigration remains sticking point
Trump has infuriated Democrats with his demands for a $5.7 billion barrier along hundreds of miles of the U.S.– Mexico border — a demand that provoked the 35-day government shutdown.
He devoted a significant portion of his address to immigration, with Trump declaring “no issue better illustrates the divide between America’s working class and America’s political class than illegal immigration.”
“The lawless state of our Southern border is a threat to the safety, security and financial well-being of all Americans,” he said. “We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens.”
He also waded into abor- tion rights, calling on Congress to approve a ban on late-term abortions. In sharp language, he denounced the New York legislature for passing a bill he claimed “would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments from birth.”
Trump is meeting with N. Korean leader
Trump also claimed that had he “not been elected president of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea.”
He announced that at the end of this month during a trip to Vietnam he would meet for the second time with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un in an effort to persuade North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program.
Local woman gets front-row seat
Among those watching from the galleries was Ashley Evans, a Dayton native who just passed one year in recovery from an opioid addiction. Evans, who now lives in an apartment in Columbus, sat next to first lady Melania Trump during the address.
Evans became addicted to pain killers after she was prescribed a pain medicine for an ankle injury. After the birth of her daughter Olivia last year, she entered a rehabilitation program while Olivia was cared for by Brigid’s Path, a facility in Kettering that focuses on babies born dependent on opioids.
Evans had a whirlwind day even before the president began speaking. Just before 6 p.m. Tuesday she met Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen in the vice president’s office in the Executive Office Building next to the White House.
“He thanked me for coming and I told him that I was honored to be there and excited to be here,” Evans said Tuesday. “His wife said something along the lines that she was very proud of me and I am a shining star.”