Faced with an up-or-down impeachment vote tomorrow in the Senate, 73-year-old President Donald Trump is all set to deliver his 2020 State-of-the-Union Speech tonight to a joint session of Congress. With Iowa caucus results still not in, the Democrat Party led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), faces more embarrassment, especially knowing that all her efforts to get rid of Trump have failed. Pelosi hoped that an impeachment proceeding would damage the president’s chances in 2020, something that looks to have backfired. Today’s Gallup Report showed that Trump’s approval rating hit 49%, with 51% of respondents saying they oppose removing Trump from office. When it all adds up, it’s bad news for Pelosi who thought things would turn out differently. Trump gets a national audience tonight to boast about his accomplishments, despite overcoming so many political obstacles.
Pelosi and House Democrats led by Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) put all their eggs in the impeachment basket, now face embarrassment in the Senate. Democrats can only say that the Senate created a farce, not allowing more witnesses and evidence. Unable to drag the trial deeper into the primaries, Pelosi faces uncertainty about beating Trump in November. Watching her months-long impeachment effort fail, voters could punish Democrats, giving Trump a wind at his back heading into November. With Pelosi behind him tonight while he delivers his State-of-the-Union speech, Trump looks poised to itemize White House’s accomplishments in the economy and with foreign policy. Trump will no doubt talk about eliminating Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS] leader Abu Bakr al-Bagdadi Oct. 27, 2018 and Iranian’s Al-Quds’ leader Gen. Qassem Solemani Jan. 3.
Democrats and their friends in the press gave al-Bagdadi’s death almost no play, blaming Trump for assassinating Solemani, creating more risk to U.S. national security. But whatever Democrats and the press say, Gallup’s poll tells a different story on managing the economy and foreign policy. Democrats would love to hear Trump talk tonight about impeachment but he’s smart enough to spend his time itemizing White House successes. When Pelosi gloated publicly Jan. 18 that Trump will forever have the stain of impeachment on his record, he won’t give her the satisfaction in the State-of-the-Union Speech tonight. Trump plans to highlight the strongest jobs growth and lowest unemployment number in U.S. history. Signing his Phase 1 trade deal with China Jan. 15, Trump silenced critics, getting China to do what was regarded as impossible by Democrats and the press.
Trump knows how to command an audience like few others in U .S. history. Seasoned at campaign rallies with far larger crowds than a joint session of Congress, expect Trump to rise to the occasion, selling the country on many of his accomplishments. Nothing could be more damaging to Pelosi and Democrats than Trump looking presidential in a State-of-the-Union speech. It runs counter to the Democrat narrative played over-and-over during the impeachment trial that Trump’s a dangerous leader needing urgent removal from office. Nothing shows off Trump’s charisma more that commanding both House of Congress, countering what looks like purely fake news. “We’re really looking to giving a very, very positive message,” Trump told reporters, hinting at what’s to come tonight. Calling his speech, “The Great American Comeback,” Trump plans set a high tone tonight.
Nothing hurts Democrats and media more that letting a national audience see Trump at his best. Not speaking to Pelosi since October 2019, Trump has a lot to gain politically, not looking like he holds grudges. Trump plans to talk about his border wall, a sore point for Democrats but a great accomplishment for Trump. Trump’s border wall flies in the face of Democrats’ attacks on Trump as a xenophobic racist. Trump will point to his border helping contain the border crisis, a campaign promise delivered in 2016. When Trump itemizes his accomplishments, Democrats will look like bad sports refusing to applaud, even where it helps all Americans. Watching Democrats show sour grapes will only play into Trump’s hands, making Democrats look jealous and mean-spirited. “I’m not sure that they can do it [cooperate], to be honest,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Super Bowl Sunday.
Democrats and the press seem more determined than ever to undermine Trump’s reelection efforts. When he speaks at the State-of-the-Union tonight, he’ll extend an olive branch to Democrats, despite knowing they aren’t willing to do the people’s business until after the November election. Expecting 47 million viewers tonight, Trump’s knows this is his best shot of selling his case to American voters. With Pelosi smirking at his back through the speech, Trump needs to plow ahead, wowing the audience with his accomplishments over the last three years. Nothing slaps Democrats and the press more than talking about concrete successes. With Wall Street in rally mode today, Trump’s got some powerful talking points to hammer home why he deserves four more years. Today’s Gallup poll tells the real story of how Russian collusion and impeachment have backfired on Democrats and the press.
