Watching Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address tonight, I thought of two homely things. One was something that a friend used to say to her young daughter: “Don’t forget to have an attitude of gratitude,” she would remind her preteen when that attitude was absent.
The second thing I thought about was a fact I recently learned about Ulysses S. Grant. He was a great general, yes, and he was also a great, if generally under-appreciated, president. One sign of his greatness came posthumously. At his funeral, two of Grant’s pallbearers were Confederate generals. Grant had won the civil war, defeating the Confederacy, saving the Union. But in death he underscored his ultimate purpose: to unite the country.
It pains me to say it, but I think it is true: both the attitude of gratitude and the recognition that, whatever our differences, we are one, united country, were missing among many attendees at this annual celebration. The State of the Union Address is the perfect opportunity for members of Congress to put their partisan differences aside and celebrate the litany achievements their president elaborates. But, true to form, the Democrats very seldom rose or applauded, even when Donald Trump said please stand if you agree with this statement: “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” How could they not agree? But they apparently did not, for almost none stood.
Trump’s address was completely in character. Like the river Meander, it took a circuitous path. Like Paradise Lost according to Samuel Johnson, no one wished it longer than it was. But although Quintilian and Cicero would doubtless have caviled at this and that, it was an extraordinary robust and effective celebration of what Trump cares about most: American greatness.
His talk was essentially a catalog of accomplishments. That comes with the territory. Naturally, Trump, being Trump, the honor roll did not stint on the pronoun “I.” That rubs some people the wrong way. But the truth is, Trump’s first year of his second term has been nothing short of extraordinary. Trump began and ended with the claim that this, America’s 250th year, marks the commencement of a Golden Age for the nation. His inventory of achievements gave substance to the claim. Inflation, illegal immigration, crime, prices, regulation and unemployment are down, way down, while wages, GDP, the market, military readiness and personal wealth is way up. The racist reign of DEI is crumbling; old-fashioned, merit-based success is on the rise.
Noting that the Somali fraud in Minnesota alone had cost taxpayers some $19 billion, he announced that Vice President J.D. Vance would lead a new “War on Fraud.” He singled out for praise and recognition several military heroes and individuals who had suffered traumatic injury. He paraded the Olympic men’s hockey team that just won a startling victory over Canada.The evening saw a lot of love emanating from the podium. Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar and most other Democrats were not pleased.
Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the Constitution stipulates that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” That duty was eventually codified into the televised drama we have today. It’s pure theater. In Trump’s case, it is an hour or two of Muhammad Ali-like oratory on stage. Trump does not speak like Daniel Webster or even JFK. He infuriates the left and leaves even some of his supporters a little queasy. But he connects with the people. His opponents may dislike his policies. They may bridle at his rhetoric. But no honest observer can deny that he is utterly sincere in his love of America and his desire to improve the lives of its citizens.
My grade? Alpha plus.
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