Breaking Down Trump’s Speech: Hits, Misses, and Missed Opportunities
Last night, I stayed up later than usual to watch President Trump’s address to Congress. I always tune in when a president—regardless of who it is—addresses Congress or the nation. Now that I’ve had time to reflect, I want to share my thoughts on the speech.
The Mechanics of the Speech
At an hour and forty minutes, this was the longest address to Congress by any president—a record I suspect was broken intentionally. It served two purposes: first, to highlight the contrast between Trump and President Biden, and second, to push the Democratic response later into the night when fewer Americans would be watching. Strategically, this was a smart move. It’s always advantageous to control the narrative and dominate the media cycle.
In terms of delivery, Trump’s speech was more structured than usual. While he’ll never match the eloquence of Obama or Clinton, he had fewer awkward pauses and less rambling than I expected. That’s an improvement.
What Didn’t Work
While there was a lot to appreciate, some aspects of the speech felt either pointless or frustratingly vague. For instance, I couldn’t care less about renaming the Gulf of Mexico or a mountain in Alaska. These symbolic gestures do nothing to lower prices, make life easier, or address real issues facing Americans.
I’m also skeptical about the Gold Card program. Instead of incentivizing wealthy foreigners to become U.S. citizens, I’d rather see policies that encourage talented, innovative young professionals to stay in America.
Then there was the section on farmers—I still don’t know what Trump was trying to say. If there’s a plan to bolster American agriculture, it wasn’t articulated well, and that’s concerning.
On the military front, I appreciated the shutdown of DEI initiatives within the Department of Defense, but that’s just one piece of the puzzle. What’s the broader strategy to improve military effectiveness? How will he handle ineffective leadership, the troubling rates of sexual assault in military academies, or the erosion of faith in the military justice system? Modern warfare isn’t just about building more ships—it’s about cyber defense and space warfare. I wanted more depth here.
Affordability was another major missing piece. I wanted to hear real plans for lowering prices, increasing homeownership accessibility, making college more affordable, expanding job opportunities, and fostering small business growth. Tariffs are interesting, but without further details, they’re just a talking point.
Finally, while I generally support efforts to cut wasteful government spending, some of the budget cuts felt too broad. Take the circumcision program in Mozambique—it might sound strange at first glance, but in many African countries, safe circumcision reduces life-threatening infections, which in turn supports economic stability. If we’re cutting funding, let’s do it based on priorities, not because something sounds weird.
What Worked
That said, there was plenty in the speech that I liked. I support the administration’s firm stance on illegal immigration and aggressive approach to tackling drug cartels and gangs.
I also support banning men from women’s sports and private spaces, as well as prohibiting medical interventions like hormone therapy and surgeries for minors. These are common-sense positions, and I find arguments against them unserious. Either you oppose these measures because you simply hate Trump—an illogical stance—or you’ve convinced yourself that removing healthy body parts from children is somehow sound medical practice.
Removing critical race theory and gender ideology from public schools is another step in the right direction. But while these are important issues, they aren’t the only problems plaguing our education system. What’s the plan for addressing COVID-19 learning loss? How will we ensure American students can compete globally? What protections will parents have to choose the best educational path for their children? These are the questions I wish had been addressed.
Foreign policy also felt underdeveloped. I support ending the war in Ukraine and the focus on securing vital mineral resources. But beyond those points, I wanted to hear more. How does Trump plan to keep America out of endless wars while maintaining military and diplomatic dominance? Saying other countries should pay as much as we do is fine, but what’s the real-world strategy behind that?
The Democrats’ Response
I expect Democrats to remain seated during most of Trump’s speech, and I don’t have an issue with that. However, their refusal to clap for the mothers of murdered children, the boy battling cancer, the young man accepted to West Point, or any of the guests honored by the president came across as tasteless.
Then there were the performative theatrics—the women in pink claiming solidarity with women while failing to support a bill banning men from women’s sports, Al Green’s outburst leading to his removal, and the lawmakers who walked out or refused to attend altogether. These stunts don’t serve their constituents; they’re just empty gestures.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the speech had its strengths and weaknesses. Trump hit some solid points, but he was too vague in areas that matter. And, as always, he included plenty of bluster aimed at riling up his base—standard political theater.
Looking ahead, his success will hinge on whether he can deliver real economic improvements, demonstrate government efficiency beyond just slashing budgets, and present a coherent education and foreign policy strategy. We’ll see what the next few months bring.
