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President Donald Trump gave a great presentation on Tuesday night. He accomplished several important goals in his State of the Union address, but it is unclear whether they fundamentally changed the political dynamics in America. Still, it was a great performance – with profound messages.
The first and most important message was that the American people must associate the country’s progress, future and success with the Trump administration and the Republican Party. The President spoke of changes, transformations and, above all, the “Golden Age of America.” It was inspiring and uplifting – though not as inspiring as he might have hoped.
Certainly, Trump presented his most compelling case yet that the affordability crisis, which Democrats had used to win the 2025 off-year elections, was now finally under control.
He also made clear that his Republican Party has policies on health care, retirement, prices and, above all, taxes, which he argues will benefit the American people, as have very few others.
Also, in a way I’ve never heard before, Trump used the speech to criticize not only the Biden administration but Democrats in Congress who did nothing to present a unified front at the State of the Union.
Between Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, being escorted from the House chamber for the second year in a row and Squad members mocking Trump and wearing buttons with profanity, the message from Democrats at the 2026 State of the Union was worse than last year. This was especially true given the more than 30 vacant seats in the chamber, as some Democrats opted to hold their own “People’s State of the Union” – whatever that was.
Between Trump’s attacks and the behavior of the Democrats, it is hard to see how the country emerged more united after an extraordinary presentation that was a go-to for many Americans. Indeed, another strength of Trump’s speech was that he clearly tied the country’s success to working people — especially to the heroes who have made extraordinary achievements for our country in the past and present. The clear and implicit message was this: by standing by Trump and his policies, this was the only way America could achieve the success that he had talked about in the context of change, transformation, above all, the “golden age” that he said was underway.
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The president’s use of imagery was powerful – from the victorious U.S. Olympic hockey team to the military heroes recognized in the chamber. It was awe-inspiring and touching, and it filled me with a sense of pride in my country that I hadn’t felt during a State of the Union address in years.
Still, on Tuesday night, I didn’t get the sense that the President’s nearly one-hour, 40-minute speech changed many people’s minds or swayed many midterm voters. Although I am by no means sympathetic to today’s Democratic Party – especially its progressive wing – the degree of attacks and venom expressed at what is traditionally a non-partisan event was outrageous, even for someone who has spent 50 years in the ups and downs of politics.
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At the same time, Trump set the agenda for the midterm elections and made it clear that he would run a populist campaign based on economic empowerment and affordability, contrasting it with the Democratic Party, which he said supports open borders, high taxes, and policies hostile to law and order.
I’m sure many Americans found the speech moving and compelling, as political events rarely achieve. However, I’m not convinced that the polls will show the fundamental change that Trump and Republicans hoped would follow from the State of the Union.
Only time will tell.
This was especially compelling when Trump asked lawmakers in the House 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 stood.
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The move was anticipated and long welcomed by Republicans. But I’m not convinced that, given that polls show there is widespread public concern about ICE’s actions, this moment — as extraordinary as it was — will make immigration a winning issue in 2024. Yes, Americans recognize the Trump administration’s achievement in sealing the border. But many people are now judging the president and his party more based on ICE’s actions in major cities than on Homeland Security’s work at the border.
President Trump gave a great speech Tuesday night, but a significant challenge remains: I do not believe that many people’s minds were changed, nor that Americans were brought together.
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