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President Donald Trump gave a virtuoso performance Tuesday night. He accomplished a number of important goals in his State of the Union address, but it is unclear whether he fundamentally changed the political dynamics in the United States. Still, it was a great performance, with deep messages.
The first and most important message was that the American people should associate the country's progress, future, and success with the Trump administration and the Republican Party. The president spoke of transformations, overturns and, above all, of “the golden age of the United States.” It was moving and uplifting, although not necessarily as persuasive as I would have hoped.
Without a doubt, Trump made his most compelling argument yet that the affordability crisis, which Democrats used to win elections outside of 2025, was now finally under control.
He also made clear that his Republican Party had policies on health care, retirement, pricing and, above all, taxes that he said would benefit the American people in ways few have articulated.
At the same time, in a way I had never heard before, Trump used the speech to chastise not only the Biden administration but Democrats in Congress, who did little to present a unified front at the State of the Union.
Between Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who was kicked out of the House for the second year in a row and Team members booing Trump and wearing profanity buttons, Democrats' messaging at the 2026 State of the Union was even worse than last year. This was especially true given the more than 30 empty seats in the House, as some Democrats opted to hold their own “People's State of the Union,” whatever that may be.
Between Trump's attacks and the behavior of the Democrats, it is difficult to see how the country emerged more united after an extraordinary presentation that must have moved many Americans. In fact, another strong point of Trump's speech was that he explicitly associated the country's success with workers, especially the heroes who have achieved extraordinary achievements for our nation, past and present. The explicit and implicit message was this: supporting Trump and his policies was the only way the United States could achieve the success he spoke of in the context of the radical change, transformation and, above all, the “golden age” that he said is underway.
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The president's use of images was powerful: from the victorious United States Olympic hockey team to the military heroes recognized on camera. It was impressive and moving, and left me with a sense of pride in our country that I hadn't felt in years during a State of the Union address.
Still, on Tuesday night I didn't sense that many opinions changed or that many midterm voters were swayed by the president's nearly hour and 40-minute speech. While I have no sympathy whatsoever with today's Democratic Party (especially its progressive wing), the level of attacks and venom expressed at what is traditionally a non-partisan event was off-putting, even for someone who has spent 50 years in the turmoil of politics.
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At the same time, Trump set the agenda for the midterm elections and made clear that he will run a populist campaign based on economic empowerment and affordability, in contrast to a Democratic Party that he said supports open borders, higher taxes and policies hostile to law and order.
I am convinced that many Americans found the speech deeply moving and compelling in a way that political events rarely achieve. However, I am not convinced that the polls show the fundamental change that Trump and Republicans hoped would occur after the State of the Union.
Time will tell.
He was particularly compelling when Trump asked House lawmakers to stand up if they believed in the “fundamental principle” that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” Almost no Democrats showed up.
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The move sparked a long, predictable applause from Republicans. But I'm not convinced that, given what polls show is widespread public concern about ICE's actions, the timing (extraordinary as it may have been) makes immigration the winning issue it was in 2024. Yes, Americans recognize the Trump administration's achievement in sealing the border. But many now judge the president and his party more by ICE's actions in major cities than by Homeland Security's work at the border.
President Trump gave a great speech Tuesday night, but a major challenge remains: I don't think many opinions have changed or that Americans have come together.
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