President Trump over the course of one hour on Tuesday delivered a remarkably well-crafted, conventional speech to a joint session of Congress that could reset the political contours of his young presidency and boost support for his agenda.
Trump has been defined since Day One of his presidential campaign by his divisive rhetoric and provocative Twitter habit. It might have helped him win a muddy election, but it clouded his transition to office and led to an infant White House that has been beset by chaos and historically low approval ratings.
But Trump put his best foot forward during a primetime address to a national audience that tuned in to observe him in depth, probably for the first time since his Jan. 20 inauguration.
As opposed to the president's typically rambling, unscripted speeches that hector political opponents and the media, Trump came through with a calm, heartfelt and cogent tone that couched his populist agenda in comfortable, traditional Republican themes.
The performance could elevate the president's fragile image with swing voters and independents, improve his leverage over resistant members of both parties in the House and Senate.
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05.05.2024