U.S. President
Donald Trump showed a different side in his first address to Congress. This
Trump was part deal-maker, part salesman, asking for unity and trying to
repackage his populist message in more palatable terms.
He was less
combative, less thin-skinned and more inclusive.
And where five
weeks ago at his inauguration, he slammed Washington's politicians as
out-of-touch elitists who prospered at the expense of the public, his message
on Tuesday night was different: I need you, Republicans and Democrats alike.
Always a
showman, the reality TV star-turned-politician laid out plenty of promises: A
massive infrastructure and public works program; tax cuts for the middle class;
immigration reform; a healthcare overhaul; an education bill.
All of it would
require congressional action, likely by different coalitions of conservatives,
moderates and Democrats.
“This is our
vision. This is our mission,” Trump said. “But we can only get there together.”
Trump, a
Republican who has taunted Democrats over his 2016 election victory and
publicly fumed as they held up his Cabinet nominees, did not criticize them
this time. Repeatedly, he asked for their help, arguing that the country’s
problems call for bipartisan solutions.
After weeks of
attacks on the media, political rivals and the judges who ruled against his
executive order to temporarily ban travel from seven Muslim-majority countries,
Trump finally eased off, although his proposals were short on specifics.
“It was a
softer tone and he gave a speech and not a tweet and that's more suitable when
you're president of the United States," said Democratic Representative
Peter Welch. "The challenges are going to be the details on his policies.”
“He was
presidential tonight in a way he has not been before this," said
Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak.
REUTERS
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