We witnessed a norm-breaking presidential address to Congress Tuesday night, but not for the reasons the corporate media will tell you. President Donald Trump gave a speech that was quintessential Trump – full of surprises, and performance, and excitement in a dynamic way that actually electrified the audience in front of him (words no one has ever spoken about an address to Congress in this setting).
This was basically a State of the Union, but they call it just a Joint Address to Congress the first year a president is in office because the presumption is there won’t be much to talk about after just six weeks on the job.
Not this president; not this night.
Trump’s Remarks
I was prepared for utter boredom because that is what these things typically deliver. Even with Trump, I just figured it was going to be kind of a bore. His past State of the Unions have not been anywhere near this entertaining. But last night, he kept everything tight. He didn’t linger on any point too long. He didn’t get too deep into policy to where your eyes glazed over. He was just hitting his points.
He went off script in a way that was funny and endearing. I know the left didn’t like it, but everybody laughed at the “Pocahontas” remark about Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). There were just very funny asides in his delivery. If I delivered the same lines Trump delivered last night, people might be mildly bemused. But his delivery really had you laughing out loud. He is funny, and when he unleashes it in the right setting, it is endearing and totally works.
Donald Trump knows good TV and how to deliver it. And I think that is why, in part, the speech was so well received. A CBS News/YouGov survey of 1,200 adults (though this was more heavily weighted toward the right with 51 percent Republican, 27 percent independents, and 20 percent Democrats) found 76 percent approved of the speech; 63 percent said he spent “a lot” of time spent on issues they care about; and 68 percent said the speech made them feel hopeful.
Even a CNN survey that does not appear to have that sort of partisan weighting showed 69 percent had an either “very” or “somewhat” positive reaction to the speech.
The Dems’ Reaction
It was a very different story, however, for the Democratic lawmakers in attendance. There was cane-waving Democratic Congressman Al Green who literally got escorted out of the chamber early on in the speech. He wanted to make a spectacle of himself, and he did. Where were the cries of horror from the Democrats in response to that breach of decorum like we saw when Rep. Joe Wilson yelled out “You lie!” to Barack Obama?
They also refused to clap or stand for all sorts of very moving and beautiful moments that typically would see bipartisan support. I mean, the moment Trump addressed the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, the 12 year old who was murdered by illegal immigrants, even brought Canadian Debbie to tears. She is a hard-hearted news producer. You don’t make Canadian Debbie cry, but even she had some tears.
And then there was the sweet moment with 13-year-old cancer patient DJ Daniel who loves law enforcement and was made an honorary Secret Service agent. There was nothing political about him or his story, but, once again, it was crickets from the Dems.
Where was the humanity for the dead 12 year old or the young boy with cancer? Their behavior looked like an F-you, and I don’t think women or men, moms or dads will respond well to that.
As a matter of humanity but even as a matter of politics, you should be on your feet clapping. They seemingly came up with a plan just not to clap and not to stand for anything. But why? How could they be so fool-hearted as opposed to just saying, if there is a moment that is genuinely heartfelt and moves you, of course, show your humanity?
You can check out Megyn’s full analysis by tuning in to episode 1,019 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.