Trump seeks to move forward after speech

WASHINGTON A day after President Trump struck a more conciliatory tone in his address to Congress, aides said Wednesday he will follow through on his campaign agenda while critics predicted he would revert to his combative and divisive approach.

Vice President Pence said the speech sets the stage for a Trump program that includes cutting taxes, rolling back regulations, reworking trade deals, building up the military, repealing and replacing President Obama’s health care law, and putting “America First” in a variety of economic and foreign policies.

“That’s the reason why this speech and this agenda is resonating so well around America,” Pence said on ABC’s Good Morn- ing America.

While White House aides praised the speech and touted the good reviews — “last night was a big night for the president,” spokesman Sean Spicer said — Trump returned to Twitter early Wednesday with a short, uptempo message: “THANK YOU!”

Trump planned to meet with Republican congressional leaders later Wednesday, the day after his speech “clearly generated a lot of momentum” for his legislative agenda, Spicer said.

Democrats, meanwhile, said Trump has tried a softer approach before, then followed up with chaotic organization and attacks on critics while pursuing a conservative agenda that favors the wealthy at the expense of the poor and the middle class.

Trump’s effort “was clearly a bait- and- switch speech,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D- Calif., speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

Noting that Republicans have yet to put up specific plans for jobs or health care, Pelosi said that “all they have is rhetoric — we don’t have any reality in terms of any legislation.”

During his hour- plus address, Trump offered to work with Democrats on domestic priorities, possibly including a compromise immigration bill. The president said he already is working with foreign allies on better sharing the costs of defense, citing recent talks with NATO members.

Trump also voiced policies that have drawn opposition.

“What he says and what he does — how he talks and how he walks — are totally different,” said Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D- N. Y., on Morning Joe.

Republican pollster Frank Luntz said Trump “proved that he could reach across the aisle. The question is, ‘ What does he say and do the next day?’ ”

JJACK GRUBER, USA TODAY President Trump acknowledges the crowd after addressing a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. Some praised the conciliatory tone of the speech, others questioned his sincerity.