Donald Trump struck an uncharacteristically measured tone in an address to Congress that resurrected the “America First” themes of his inauguration but cloaked them in more conciliatory language.
In his first speech to Congress as president, Mr Trump left markets disappointed by the lack of detail on tax cuts and other policy plans, but his call for an end to “trivial fights” marked a striking shift from the harsh rhetoric of his presidential campaign and early weeks in office.
“What we are witnessing today is the renewal of the American spirit. Our allies will find that America is once again ready to lead,” Mr Trump told a joint session of Congress as he emphasised American unity and strength to both “friend and foe”.
In contrast to past comments that sparked concern among US allies in Europe, he voiced support for Nato, which has underpinned transatlantic security since the second world war, even as he said “our partners must meet their financial obligations”.
The speech was designed to show that Mr Trump was capable of selling his vision in a more positive manner and to create momentum after a rocky start to his term.
While he has pleased his voters and conservatives with moves including his choice of Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court, some Republicans have expressed alarm at the chaotic start to his presidency, which has been marked by intense infighting. Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Trump admitted that he and his team deserved only a “C or C-plus” grade for how they had communicated their policies.
Mr Trump tried to reach across the political aisle and to his critics across the US by saying that he wanted to “deliver a message of unity and strength . . . from my heart”. He called on Americans to unite around a goal of restoring economic vitality and making the country safer.
“We are one people, with one destiny. We all bleed the same blood . . . When we fulfil this vision, when we celebrate our 250 years of glorious freedom, we will look back on tonight as when this new chapter of American greatness began,” he said. “The time for small thinking is over. The time for trivial fights is behind us.”
Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at New York University, said the speech was “his most substantive thus far as a political figure” and showed some emerging maturity.
“For the first time Trump sought to sweeten some of his rhetoric to attract moderates who want better healthcare, better roads, a better environment for working women,” said Mr Naftali. “Trump exceeded expectations and, more importantly, showed that the presidency was starting to shape him, if only just a little and just tonight.”
According to a CNN poll conducted after the speech, 78 per cent of viewers had a positive impression of Mr Trump’s address.
The evening’s most dramatic moment came when the president eulogised Ryan Owens, a navy Seal killed in a raid in Yemen whose father had criticised the president. Mr Trump turned to Owens’ widow, who was sitting in the House chamber, and said: “Ryan died as he lived, a warrior and a hero”. The recognition sparked a sustained ovation, as the grieving widow was consoled by Mr Trump’s daughter Ivanka.
The president also won praise for opening his speech with a call to uphold civil rights following threats to Jewish community centres and vandalism at Jewish cemeteries plus the fatal shooting of an Indian man that is being investigated as a hate crime.
He said such incidents “remind us that while we may be a nation divided on policies, we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms”. But critics noted that Mr Trump had frequently fanned the flames of hatred during his own campaign.
Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democratic senator, said Mr Trump had “offered nothing new” in terms of ideas or legislation. “His tone tonight was more sober than usual, but what a low bar we have set for the presidency when a speech is considered a success when the commander-in-chief doesn’t do something truly stunning or embarrassing.”
The speech was very light on foreign policy — with no mention of Russia or China — as Mr Trump stressed the protectionist economic themes that dominated his campaign and stressed that he would push ahead with tax and regulatory reforms.
Mr Trump said his team was working to develop “historic tax reform” to help American companies compete and would provide “massive tax relief” for the middle class.
While he made reference to a controversial border tax pushed by Paul Ryan, speaker of the House — saying he wanted to “create a level playing field for American companies and workers” — he did not provide a clear endorsement of the measure.
Joshua Bolten, president of the Business Roundtable and former chief of staff to George W Bush, said the speech “should help build momentum for the kind of big tax reform this country needs for economic growth and the creation of more high-wage jobs”.
In a message of unity that was absent from January’s inaugural address, Mr Trump urged Democrats and Republicans to come together “for the good of the American people”.
“Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed. Every problem can be solved,” he said. “So why not join forces to finally get it done and get it done right?”
While some Democrats privately welcomed the president’s change in tone, many were critical of the speech. “Forty days after his inauguration, President Trump and the Republican Congress still have not lifted a finger to create jobs or raise wages for hard-working Americans,” said Brendan Boyle, a Democratic congressman from Philadelphia.
“Actions, not words are the remedy for the reboot the president was looking for tonight. Getting things done requires reaching across the aisle to find common ground, so all eyes will be on this White House if that’s in their playbook,” said Scott Mulhauser, a former senior Senate staffer and aide to vice-president Joe Biden.
Mr Trump came to office vowing to press an aggressive agenda, but his team has quickly run into the realities of Washington. He must overcome serious differences among members of his own party over legislative priorities, including replacing his predecessor’s Affordable Care Act healthcare law — or Obamacare — tax reform and funding for infrastructure expenditure.
Follow Demetri Sevastopulo on Twitter: @dimi
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