Great emotions, a lot of pathos – and not much new: The attempt by US President Donald Trump in his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening (local time), the political camp again to one, may have failed. For this, Trump renewed his well-known positions – especially the border wall. „I’m going to get it built,“ Trump said, reapplying for approval from the Democrats.
„Walls work and walls save lives,“ Trump told Senate and House of Representatives. He demanded $ 5.7 billion from Congress. „Tolerance for illegal migrants is not compassionate, it is cruel,“ the US president continued. The people of South America would have to be stopped from the dangerous and burdensome trip to the US.
Trump warned against „large, organized caravans“ who are on their way to the US from Central America. „I ask you to protect our very dangerous southern border out of love and dedication to our fellow citizens and our country,“ said Trump. Republicans and Democrats must join forces to counter the „pressing national crisis“ on the Mexican border. The Democrats, whose votes Trump relies on in congress, strictly reject the financing of a wall.
Fence instead of wall?
Trump emphasized that millions of Americans hoped „that we would not rule as two parties, but as one nation.“ Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer wrote before Trump’s speech on Twitter: „Even more emptier than his political promises are President Trump’s annual calls for unity.“
But it also became clear that Trump has now moved far away from his former demand for the construction of a continuous wall over the distance of 2,000 miles (about 3219 kilometers). He spoke of fences to be built where necessary. Critical voices have repeatedly stated that most illegal immigrants do not enter the green border, but mostly cross the border into the United States.
Konter followed by Democrats
In the traditional counter-speech, Democrat Stacey Abrams brushed aside Trump’s arguments: „America is strengthened by the presence of migrants, not walls,“ Abrams said. She is the first woman with Afro-American roots who made the counter-speech. Abrams also criticized the „shutdown“ that had kept the US in suspense for more than a month. Trump’s prestige project Grenzmauer or its financing had been trigger for it.
Several hundred government employees had to work without pay or persevere in forced leave. It’s a shame to play political games with people’s livelihoods, according to Abrams in Atlanta after Trump’s speech.
Although the government’s downfall is currently suspended, if Republicans and Democrats fail to agree on a budget law by 25 February, a new „shutdown“ could ensue. In the longest „shutdown“ of US history from December 22 to January 25, the United States lost $ 11 billion (about nine billion euros). According to US analysts, at least three billion dollars (around 2.6 billion euros) of this are irreparable.
Also, abortions and HIV virus as a topic
Many other Democrats and Democrats made it clear that Trump should fail in his attempt, without major concessions own the political opponent on his side, fail. The party leader of the Democrats, Tom Perez, spoke of a „sky-shattering agenda“ Trumps. Among other things, Trump called on both parties to pass a law on late abortions – and seized the opportunity to blame Democrats Ralph Northam for calling on the „abduction“ of babies with his liberal view of abortion.
In terms of health policy, Trump appealed to the Democrats to fight the HIV epidemic. He campaigned for a plan to reduce the number of HIV infections by 2030. The news portal „Politico“ had earlier reported that the US Department of State would provide more details on the strategy later this week. According to an estimate by the CDC, about one million people in the US are infected with the HIV virus. In 2017, there were about 39,000 new diagnoses.
Reunion with Kim Jong Un planned
Trump’s foreign and security policy is to continue the attempt to reach an agreement with North Korea on the nuclear disarmament of the Korean Peninsula, and to reunite with North Korea’s rulers in Vietnam on February 27 and 28. Trump and Kim met in June last year for a historic summit in Singapore.
„Our hostages have come home, nuclear tests have stopped and there has been no missile launch for 15 months,“ Trump said. „If I had not been elected President of the United States, I think we would be involved in a major war with North Korea, with potentially millions of people killed.“ There is still a lot of work to do, but his relationship with Kim is good.
Trump: „Great nations do not fight endless wars“
In Afghanistan policy Trump hopes for progress in negotiations with the radical Islamic Taliban. „I have also accelerated our negotiations to find – if possible – a political solution in Afghanistan,“ said Trump. The talks with the militia were „constructive“. He does not know whether they will lead to a result, „but after two decades of war we should at least try to create peace“.
„Great nations do not fight endless wars,“ said the President, referring to the 18-year Afghanistan mission. „As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on combating terrorism.“ Previously, there had been speculation that Trump was even planning an abrupt withdrawal of US troops from the Hindu Kush.
US economy „economic miracle“
Foreign policy Trump repeated otherwise known positions. He wants to keep a close eye on Iran because the government in Tehran wants America to die and threatens Israel. He reiterated his support for the Venezuelan opposition to its counterpart, Juan Guaido, whom the United States and now many other countries recognize as the legitimate political leader in the Latin American country. And he defended again the Americans exit from the nuclear disarmament treaty INF.
The US president reiterated his praise for the US economy. The economic development equals an „economic miracle“, said the president. The positive development could only be stopped if unnecessary wars were waged and if it led to party-politically motivated investigations against his person. Trump’s aim was to announce that the US Democrats would use their majority in Congress to investigate Trump.
China again accused the president of stealing intellectual property. The People’s Republic attacked the US industry. But the theft of American jobs and prosperity is over. A new trade agreement with China must end unfair trade practices, end the US’s chronic trade deficit and protect American jobs.
Democrats put signs with clothes
The speech of Trump was peppered with emotional appearances by guests who wanted to appeal to the patriotism of the Americans and to document the greatness of the nation as well as the successes of the Trump politics. So not only was the last living moon driver Buzz Aldrin in the Congress Hall, but also a ten-year-old girl who fought successfully against cancer and World War II veterans. With the appearance of a pardoned after 22 years in prison for drug offenses Trump, he supported his policy in the penal system.
Many women on the Democratic side made a statement with their clothes – they appeared in white – including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and New York deputy Ocasio-Cortez. When Trump praised his labor market policy, a group of female Democrats cheered as a sign that many women had been newly elected to Congress in November.
Gigantic media spectacle
The US Constitution provides that the President „from time to time informs Congress of the state of the nation.“ It is not specified in which form this should happen. The first US President, George Washington, appeared in 1789 in person before Senate and House Representatives. Other presidents sent their addresses in writing to the congress.
The tradition of personal addresses was revived in 1913 by President Woodrow Wilson. The speech is officially called „State of the Union Address“ but only since 1947. Today, the speech on the state of the nation is a gigantic media event, millions saw the appearance on television. In 2019, the speech was broadcast live by twelve American TV channels. In 2018, according to an estimate by the information company Nielsen, some 45.6 million people watched the political spectacle.
