United States President, Donald Trump’s State of the Union address included highlights that both Americans and the world considered unique. On an overall aspect, no one expected for his address to maintain calm, be lenient and radiate a non-aggressive tone. One of the highlights Trump authored is when he called for Americans to unite. The statement aroused mixed reactions from Americans setting them to a state of ‘us-versus-them’ especially among the minorities.
Trump’s brandishing policies, divisive politics, and attacks on marginalized communities implies that it is quite hard to comprehend that he can change his way of politics.
Reaction from Colored Americans
His address on Tuesday night solicited reactions especially from the people of color. The majority claimed that the president simply softened what he always reiterated about the minorities in America. The President may not have reflected his normal ideology and bruising style of leadership but they still believe he cannot change. Colors called him out when he spoke about immigration and used examples of people of color to demonstrate his facts. They termed it a coat of tolerance on an already injured issue.
Rashad Robinson, the Executive Director Color of Change echoed that after a year of lethal strategies and outbursts on the minorities, they cannot hope that Trump will change. He added that behaving like an adult for the State of Union address does not change any fact about Trump.
Trump took credit for colored unemployment and showcased the journey of a colored welder who was first unemployed then transformed into a significant career all under Trump’s presidency. Trump also portrayed his disgust for the NFL players who sat during the national anthem to protests Trump’s racism. The president showed his dismay by admiring a 12year old boy’s action of devotion when he mobilized American flags to be placed on 40,000 veteran graves in Redding, California.
Unmentioned Issues
Despite criticisms of Trump’s pretentious nature at the address, other Americans also pointed out that Trump did not touch on crucial issues happening on the continent. Some slightly mentioned that the president did not refer to recently hurricane-devastated areas like Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.
Democrats also expected that he touches on the ongoing Russia probe or the Republican memo but there was no such thing.
Trump did not also speak on the evolving #Me Too movement against sexual harassment which is dominant in the United States. An overall overview of Trump’s address denoted him as a hypocrite.
