In his previous speeches to Congress, President Donald Trump exhibited a tendency to seek legislative support for his initiatives. However, as he prepared to address Congress on a Tuesday evening, the President has grown more comfortable in asserting his executive authority to make substantial changes to the federal government independently, bypassing the need for Congressional approval in many cases. Trump has taken numerous unilateral actions: imposing tariffs, deporting undocumented immigrants, reducing the federal workforce, and freezing spending approved by Congress. Nonetheless, he still requires lawmakers’ cooperation to sustain the tax cuts introduced in 2017.
Trump’s evolution as a leader is highlighted through his speeches during his first term. Initially, his 2017 State of the Union speech reflected optimism, in stark contrast to his inaugural address that depicted a dark vision of the country. This optimism was marked by his emphasis on civil rights during Black History Month and delivering a message centered on unity and strength.
Throughout his address in 2017, Trump promised to tackle crime, secure the southern border, reduce taxes, and rejuvenate manufacturing. Despite some critics questioning the effectiveness of tariffs, he used Harley-Davidson as an example, proposing import taxes as a means to assist American businesses. His tariffs, however, did not sustain long-term stock stability for such companies. Noteworthy is the continued fall in Harley-Davidson’s share price post-Trump’s initial term.
In 2018, following the legislative triumph of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Trump introduced his vision titled “our new American moment” during his State of the Union. The act had slashed the corporate tax rate to 21% with individual tax cuts slated to expire in 2025. While Republicans celebrated the scale of these $2 trillion cuts, Democrats highlighted their disproportionate benefits toward the wealthy. Trump touted the increased income and investments it spurred, yet these promises faced challenges during the pandemic and subsequent inflation under President Joe Biden.
Trump’s subsequent 2019 speech came after losing the House majority to Democrats. Acknowledging the shift, he called for bipartisan collaboration, urging lawmakers to favor progress over investigation into his administration’s dealings. He highlighted the robust U.S. economy but linked potential threats to investigations he deemed frivolous.
The 2019 impeachment proceedings, initiated by the House over Trump’s actions involving Ukraine, loomed over his speeches. By 2020, facing re-election, his rhetoric turned sharply partisan. Vividly contrasting the economic gains achieved, which began under Barack Obama’s administration, Trump accused the Democrats of pursuing extreme socialist policies, specifically targeting healthcare.
Despite downplaying the looming coronavirus threat during the early 2020 address, the pandemic soon thrust the nation into dire circumstances, leading to economic shutdowns and soaring government debt. The speech, while portraying prosperity and dismissing fears, did not foresee the swiftly approaching crisis.
In stark symbolic opposition to Trump’s 2020 address, Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously tore her copy of the speech. Soon, the U.S. faced an unprecedented lockdown period, massive job losses, and significant economic disruptions due to the pandemic, challenging Trump’s optimistic declarations and reshaping the American political and economic landscape.
