State of the Union: Donald Trump boasts of strong economy, Middle East peace plan

Donald Trump delivered a triumphant speech, boasting of a strong economy, but his address was book-ended with typically Nancy Pelosi moments.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi steals the show at the end of the State of the Union, tearing up her copy of Donald Trump's address. Picture; AP.

Donald Trump has delivered a triumphant State of the Union speech on the eve of near certain acquittal in his impeachment trial, setting the stage for his re-election bid with a boast of “I keep my promises.”

However despite his promise not to mention his impeachment, his address was book-ended with Nancy Pelosi moments which momentarily stole the show.

Before he began his address, Mr Trump appeared to pointedly snub the House Speaker. Arriving at the rostrum, Mr Trump handed copies of his speech to Ms Pelosi and Vice-President Mike Pence. As Ms Pelosi appeared to offer her hand to shake, Mr Trump turned away. Ms Pelosi appeared momentarily disconcerted before shrugging and sitting down.

As he completed his speech, however, she got her revenge, pointedly ripping up her copy of his speech.

These moments aside, Mr Trump was in a buoyant mood, spruiking the country’s strengthening economy, border security and his Middle East peace plan.

“Three years ago, we launched the great American comeback. Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results,” he said.

“We have shattered the mentality of American decline and we have rejected the downsizing of America’s destiny.”

Mr Trump said his policies of deregulation and tax cuts – criticised by opponents as harming the environment and favouring the wealthy over the poor – were responsible for “unparalleled success” in the economy.

“Jobs are booming. Incomes are soaring. Poverty is plummeting,” he said, adding “the years of economic decay are over.”

In a note of togetherness to a deeply polarised nation, he insisted that he is “building the world’s most prosperous and inclusive society – one where every citizen can join in.”

Donald Trump look to the first lady's box before delivering his State of the Union address as Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker Nancy Pelosi look on. Picture: AP.

Among those listening to Mr Trump was Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido, who was in Washington after travelling to Davos to rally support for the movement to oust president Nicolas Maduro. Mr Guaido, who the US recognises as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, was one of Mr Trump’s special guests and his appearance at the address was a strong sign of support from the White House.

Mr Trump referred to Venezuela when he boasted of rolling back the Obama administration’s shift to a more open stance towards Cuba.

Since Mr Trump took office, the US has barred cruise ships, yachts and private flights from visiting the island. Mr. Trump said the US was supporting the hopes of Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to restore democracy. Administration officials have previously referred to Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, as the “troika of tyranny”.

Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh is also one of Mr Trump’s special guests.

Mr Limbaugh, a steadfast supporter of the president, was seated next to Melania Trump in the congressional gallery. He announced on his nationally televised radio program on Monday that he is battling advanced lung cancer.

After paying tribute to his strength, Mr Trump announced Mr Limbaugh would received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

First Lady Melania Trump delivers the Medal of Freedom to radio personality Rush Limbaugh. AFP.

Mr Trump went on to list the North American USMCA trade pact, a trade deal with China, massive military spending, “unprecedented” measures to stop illegal immigration, and his bid to “end America’s wars in the Middle East” as examples of fulfilling his commitments to voters.

“Unlike so many who came before me, I keep my promises,” he said.

On China, Mr Trump also boasted of a “phase one” agreement with Beijing that is aimed at halting the trade war, locking in some new trade rules, and requiring increased purchases of American farm exports and other products.

“Days ago, we signed the groundbreaking new agreement with China that will defend our workers, protect our intellectual property, bring billions of dollars into our treasury, and open vast new markets for products made and grown right here in the USA,” Mr Trump said.

Unlike USMCA, which guarantees free trade if companies follow certain rules, the China deal maintains nearly all the tariffs imposed on Beijing, with China keeping much of its retaliatory duties.

As he accused Democrats of wanting to “impose a socialist takeover of our healthcare system, wiping out the private health insurance plans of 180 million Americans”, white-clad Democratic congresswomen rose up to challenge him, shouting “Who? Who?”.

Democratic members of congress rise up as Mr Trump speaks about health care. Picture: AFP.

He went on to claim the administration’s recently unveiled Middle East peace plan to be “ground-breaking.”

The plan would give Israelis much of what they have long sought, including allowing for immediate expansion of territory and sovereignty over Jerusalem. Palestinians are provided a path to nationhood – under conditions they instantly rejected.

“Recognising that all past attempts have failed, we must be determined and creative in order to stabilise the region,” Mr. Trump said.

This could have been the darkest week of Mr Trump’s administration, with only the third presidential impeachment trial in US history poised to culminate on Thursday with the Senate delivering a verdict.

Facing him during the speech is sea of hostile Democratic legislators. And just over his left shoulder is House speaker Nancy Pelosi, whom Mr Trump has repeatedly denounced in public.

Tune in tonight 9pm ET #SOTU pic.twitter.com/j2K3WEKKdM

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) February 5, 2020

The White House flagged well in advance that the speech would be “very optimistic.”

The “I” word will not even be pronounced, the White House said.

“I read the speech and the word ‘impeachment’s’ not in it,” spokesman Hogan Gidley told Fox News shortly before the event.

Mr Trump himself told TV network anchors at an annual lunch hosted by the White House before the speech that he’d be “extraordinarily low-key” and wasn’t feeling “bitter” at all, Politico reported.

White House special guest Tony Rankin, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Lara Trump attend the State of the Union address. Picture: AFP.

Mr Trump spent part of Tuesday mocking the Democrats’ shambolic kick-off to their primary season, saying that delays in the vote count in Iowa proved their incompetence.

“Nothing works, just like they ran the country,” Mr Trump said on Twitter. Reflecting the bitter atmosphere in the country ahead of the November presidential elections, prominent young left wing politicians Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley were among several Democrats declaring they’d boycott the State of the Union.

“I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalise Trump’s lawless conduct & subversion of the Constitution,” Ms Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.

Squad Goals. Getting ready to watch @realDonaldTrump deliver another incredible State of The Union address. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/c2nVeZr9BH

— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 5, 2020

The choices of guests to the big event tell their own stories as the election campaign picks up.

Mr Trump invited a senior border patrol officer, a woman whose brother was murdered by an illegal immigrant in 2018, and former Caracas police chief Ivan Simonovis who spent years in jail under Venezuela’s far-left government.

Mike Pence greets people before Donald Trump’s arrival. Picture: AP.

And Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognised as the country’s interim president by the United States, is a surprise guest in a public show of support for his efforts to dislodge President Nicolas Maduro.

Democratic party leaders’ guests include some 80 doctors, patients and others symbolising what they say is the Trump administration’s failure to tackle health care problems.

Trump got yet more good news on Tuesday with a Gallup poll showing his approval rating at its highest ever: 49 per cent.

Support was up both among Republicans and independents, though opposition among Democrats had deepened more than ever, the poll found

The theme of the speech, “The Great American Comeback,” echoed the core message of Mr. Trump’s recent remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the president cast himself as the architect of the booming U.S. economy. Voters consistently list the economy as a top issue, and the president’s advisers view it as central to Mr. Trump’s re-election chances.

Ilhan Oma takes a selfie with Rashida Tlaib and Pramila Jayapal. Picture: AP.

As he did in his remarks in Davos, Mr. Trump will tout what he calls a “blue-collar boom,” part of an effort to highlight how his policies are helping the middle class, aides said. The president will trumpet the economic effects of a pair of recent trade agreements: the newly approved U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal and a “phase one” deal with China.

He will emphasise his administration’s efforts to help working families, including his support of paid family leave and affordable child care. Lowering the cost of health care, as well as the cost of prescription drugs, will also be a major theme of the speech, aides said.

The issue of health care will present Mr. Trump with an opening to criticise his Democratic opponents. “He will contrast his vision with radical proposals being floated on the left,” a senior administration official said. Mr. Trump is expected to echo comments he made in his 2019 address criticising efforts “to adopt socialism in our country.”

Drew Hammill, the deputy chief of staff to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said, “President Trump ran in 2016 on the Democratic policies of making health care affordable for everybody and negotiating lower drug prices. He has broken both of those promises with his ongoing crusade to repeal protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, putting a pharmaceutical executive in charge of drug prices, and siding with Big Pharma against the House’s game-changing Lower Drug Prices Now Act.”

AFP with The Wall St Journal