Trump’s Address: A Stark Contrast and a Partisan Divide
Ingrid Jacques, a columnist for USA TODAY, recounts her emotional response to President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress. Her piece highlights the stark contrast between Trump’s performance and that of his predecessor, Joe Biden, while also lamenting the deep partisan divide that continues to plague American politics.
Jacques begins by admitting that she is not easily moved to tears, yet found herself wiping them away during Trump’s address. She attributes this emotional reaction to several touching moments, particularly Trump’s recognition of 13-year-old brain cancer survivor Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel. DJ, who dreams of becoming a police officer, was made an honorary member of the Secret Service by the President, a gesture witnessed by millions of Americans and DJ’s proud father.
The columnist vividly describes the genuine surprise and joy on DJ’s face as he received the honor. She emphasizes that this recognition from the nation’s commander-in-chief would likely be a highlight for both father and son. The audience in attendance, or at least a significant portion of it, stood and cheered for DJ’s moment.
However, Jacques points out a stark contrast in the reaction from the Democratic side of the aisle. Many Democrats remained seated and stone-faced during Trump’s recognition of DJ and other "everyday Americans." Jacques views this as a "sad showing" of the Democratic Party’s partisan nature and disconnect from the American people, especially after their significant election losses.
She further emphasizes that the Democratic representatives’ reaction, or lack thereof, proves the divide in the political climate today. How can there not be unanimous support when recognizing an American child, one who has fought cancer, and has dreams to become a police officer?
Jacques then delves into polling data to support her argument that the Democratic Party is struggling to connect with voters. She cites a Quinnipiac poll from February showing a record low approval rating of 21% for Democrats in Congress. In contrast, the poll indicated a record high approval rating of 40% for Republicans. Other polls, she notes, have shown similar warning signs for the Democratic Party.
Turning her attention to Trump’s speech, Jacques highlights polls conducted after the address, which suggest that the President is delivering on what voters re-elected him to do. A CBS News/YouGov survey found that 76% of viewers approved of Trump’s message, and 63% felt he focused on issues they cared about.
While acknowledging that a majority of viewers identified as Republicans, Jacques points out that Trump received significant support across party lines. Nearly 70% of respondents said the speech made them feel hopeful, while others described it as "presidential," "inspiring," "unifying," and "entertaining." The poll also revealed strong support for Trump’s plans on immigration, reducing government waste, fostering peace between Russia and Ukraine, and even tariffs.
Similarly, a CNN poll found that 70% of speech viewers had a "somewhat positive" reaction, with most believing Trump’s policies would steer the country in the right direction. Jacques underscores that it has only been six weeks since Trump assumed office, yet the contrast between him and his predecessor is striking.
It is apparent that the columnist is not a fan of Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, making her own feelings clear. She states that when watching Trump’s address, she couldn’t help but feel relieved that Biden was no longer in office.
While acknowledging that Biden received surprisingly good marks in the polls after his last State of the Union address, Jacques attributes this partly to the tendency of party loyalists to watch their president’s speeches. However, she argues that the bar for a passing grade was extremely low for Biden, who she claims struggled to read remarks on a teleprompter in his final years, battling incoherence and confusion.
Jacques contrasts this with Trump, who she says thrives in the spotlight and delivered a message that resonated with a large majority of viewers. She concludes by asserting that Democrats who cannot find common ground with the President, or even acknowledge the touching moment with a child cancer survivor, will continue to see their approval ratings and relevance decline.
Jacques’s column reflects a broader narrative of political polarization in the United States. It is a reminder of the challenges facing both parties in bridging the divide and working together for the common good. It is possible, and necessary, to find common ground with political opponents to represent the American people.
