Trump’s Address: A Spectacle of Self-Aggrandizement and Dubious Claims
President Donald Trump, a master of the televised spectacle, consistently leverages such moments to construct a narrative of himself, one predictably overflowing with grandiose claims and questionable accuracy. His upcoming address to a joint session of Congress, while theoretically an opportunity to outline his policy proposals and plans for the next four years, is likely to be another exercise in self-promotion and the rewriting of history. After a somewhat chaotic first six weeks back in office, Trump will undoubtedly attempt to portray his initial tenure as a period of swift and comprehensive victories.
The audience for this address will be a collection of nervous and apprehensive politicians. Both Republicans and Democrats have observed with growing concern Trump’s initial actions, which often disregard the constitutional authority granted to Congress. Republicans are facing increasing pressure from their constituents, who are expressing anger over the immediate repercussions of Trump’s attacks on government agencies and federal employees. Democrats, on the other hand, are facing criticism for what many perceive as an insufficient resistance to Trump’s policies and pronouncements.
Expect a barrage of falsehoods and distortions. The address will likely be punctuated by Republican applause and a heavy dose of gaslighting, a tactic Trump has frequently employed to manipulate public perception.
Trump’s successful campaign last fall centered largely on the American economy. He attributed a wide range of economic woes, from inflation to gasoline and egg prices, to President Joe Biden’s administration. During a post-election interview on NBC News’ "Meet The Press," Trump declared, "I won on groceries," suggesting that his victory was directly linked to voter concerns about the cost of food. However, his recent economic policy announcement at the White House, which includes a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, is likely to be detrimental to the majority of Americans.
Trump’s obsession with tariffs, as if imposing higher costs on imported goods is a panacea for economic challenges, is well-documented. Despite the fact that inflation has increased since he assumed office, he refuses to acknowledge the well-established economic principle that importers typically pass along increased tariff costs to consumers.
Polls have consistently shown voter dissatisfaction with Biden’s economic policies. However, Trump’s approach is not faring much better. A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll revealed that 57% of Americans anticipate an increase in grocery prices within the next six months. Trump’s approval ratings remain predictably low, with 49% disapproving of his job performance and 45% approving.
One example of Trump’s dubious initiatives is the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a pet project he created for Elon Musk, the billionaire who contributed over $250 million to Trump’s reelection campaign. The only thing DOGE has demonstrated efficiency in is misleading the public about its actual accomplishments.
The formula is simple: Musk makes exaggerated claims about DOGE’s purported cost savings. Trump then amplifies Musk’s messaging, dismissing any federal spending he dislikes as "fraud" and "corruption." Independent journalists and analysts then scrutinize and debunk these claims. Despite this, Trump continues to tout supposed "big wins," even as Musk’s team quietly removes the unsubstantiated figures from the DOGE website.
Trump will not acknowledge the stories of federal employees, many of whom are veterans, who have been abruptly terminated from their positions at the behest of Musk. Instead, he will claim to be saving the government he is, in reality, dismantling.
In Trump’s narrative, he is a strong leader who is restoring America’s global prestige. Expect a significant portion of Tuesday’s address to be dedicated to his foreign policy, particularly concerning conflict zones such as Gaza and Ukraine.
During a recent joint appearance with Vice President JD Vance, Trump attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for pointing out Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unreliability in diplomatic negotiations. Trump and Vance want the public to believe that Ukraine is somehow responsible for Russia’s invasion. The Kremlin has expressed its approval of Trump’s foreign policy, stating that it "largely coincides with our vision." However, the rest of Europe is far less enthusiastic.
Regarding Gaza, Trump has repeatedly proposed the outlandish idea of the United States taking control of the territory and transforming it into a luxurious seaside resort, complete with a golden statue of himself. When questioned about the 2 million Palestinians who reside in Gaza, Trump dismissively suggests that they relocate to Egypt and Jordan. Of course, the Palestinians, Egyptians, and Jordanians are vehemently opposed to this idea. However, Trump will not allow such facts to deter him from claiming to have resolved the conflict, all while simultaneously campaigning for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump also resorts to manipulation when it comes to his poll numbers. He has been known to fabricate figures to portray himself as more popular than he actually is. Consider his recent claim at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he told a cheering crowd, "We must be doing something right because we’ve got the highest poll numbers that I’ve ever had and that any Republican president has ever had." This statement is demonstrably false.
Trump made the same claim a day earlier at the White House, only to have it swiftly debunked. Keep this in mind as Trump speaks on Tuesday night. He craves to be the central figure in every story, cast as the heroic savior of the day and the country. He is unconcerned with the veracity of the story; his sole concern is that you believe it.
