A recap of President Trump’s first State of the Union Address

On February 28, President Trump gave his first speech to a joint session of Congress. It was dubbed the State of the Union, when in fact it was technically an address to Congress with an equivalent purpose, outlining the future he plans for America.

Trump’s speech lasted an hour with multiple interruptions from clapping and standing ovations after every point and promise. On several occasions, the applauding came only from the Republican side of the room. He highlighted on his plans to crack down on borders, cut taxes on businesses and repeal Obamacare. His main themes were familiar, he described a country in peril with desperate need for change. The sole difference in Trump’s speech was the shift in tone, using optimistic language and seeking to get the two parties to collaborate.

President Trump’s Inaugural Address seemed to appeal only to his prime base. This speech was different in the way it was delivered, with more looking to the bright future Trump plans to build type with his ideals. Within the first sentences he was paying respects to Black History Month and the civil rights movement, already deeply contrasting his earlier rhetoric during the campaign. Trump later condemned the hate crimes against Jewish cemeteries as “hate and evil,” although earlier on the day of his address, according to the Washington Post, Trump blamed the desecration on his opponents as a ploy to make him look anti-semitic.   

President Trump emphasized the perceived threat of what he would call, “radical Islamic terrorism,” and stated that the Department of Defense presented a plan to defeat ISIS. Trump put out a call to action for his allies in the “Muslim world,” to eliminate their common enemy. He also promised the creation of thousands of new jobs on the Dakota Access Pipeline, which will remain true for two years, according to CNN. After two years, the temporary jobs will have reached their end, leaving only 35 permanent ones.

The congresswomen of the Democratic Party dressed in all white as a salute to the women’s suffrage movement. This same trend was demonstrated on election day, when female voters wore white pant suits to cast their ballot, and again throughout Hillary Clinton’s campaign as she wore all white pant suits during pivotal moments on the trail.