Becoming President
Donald J. Trump’s first address to a Joint Session of Congress is now over. It was both an inspiring speech and exemplary performance. I think that commentator Alex Castellanos said it best: “Donald Trump was inaugurated on January 20th, but he became President tonight.”
The plan of action that Mr. Trump laid out was in full keeping with promises made during his campaign, so he remained true to his message. He renewed his pledges to rebuild the military, support America’s police, secure our boarder, eliminate unvetted immigration, lower taxes, foster business, support our allies, and fight Muslim terrorism. But tonight the tone and emphasis were a bit different: he buttressed his plans of action with the motivations behind them. He made it clear that his goals were noble and were designed to preserve and protect the American people. He enumerated the benefits that will accrue as a result of those plans. He gave a sincere impression of a desire for bipartisanship and for national unity, unlike his predecessor’s disingenuous professed desires to be a “unifier” (which came down to be merely a call for everyone to do things his way). Although Mr. Trump did make a few references to the magnitude of the political changes that Americans ordained at the ballot box this past November, there was no gloating. There was no boasting or self congratulation. There was, instead, a sober reckoning of the work that lay ahead.
Mr. Trump had a number of invited guests in the audience that were very effective in putting a “human face” on the policies he is advocating. At one point, four family members of citizens killed by immigrant violence made very clear the human cost that “sanctuary cities” policies have incurred across our land. The most poignant guest, however, was the widow of Navy Seal Ryan Owens who was killed in Yemen on January 29. After Mr. Trump acknowledged the sacrifice of her husband and her own loss and suffering, she stood to a standing ovation. As she struggled to control her emotions the ovation went on and on and on. Mr. Trump then ad libbed, with a slight touch of sympathetic and appropriate light heartedness, that her husband looking down from heaven is now very happy because, referring to the length of the ovation, “I think you just set a record.” This brought a faint, much needed smile to her face. It was a touching and empathetic moment.
Throughout the speech, and especially at the end, Mr. Trump spoke often of renewing the American spirit and of our common destiny. He exuded enthusiasm for America’s strength and its promise.
After 8 long years of platitudes, self righteous nostrums, self aggrandizement, and outright deceit, this speech tonight was like life giving rain after a terrible, terrible drought. Forward Mr. Trump. Onward America. Godspeed.