Just after 9 pm eastern tonight, President Donald Trump will address a joint session of Congress, the first time he has done so since winning the White House again in November.
And, honestly, we know what he will do: He will brag about his first weeks in office. He will insist that passing his agenda is the only way to save America. He will blame Joe Biden and Democrats for getting the country into this mess.
In short: He will aim to provoke. He will seek out confrontation with Democrats — especially over cultural issues likes the debate over trans rights.
Here’s Time magazine on his plan:
Aides say Trump intends to use his hourlong address to Congress to frame the narrative of his first 40 days and promote his objectives by crafting a series of viral moments that will outlive the speech itself. The approach abides with the Trump World view that the sound bites that permeate traditional and social media in the days that follow will do more to shape hearts and minds than anything else.
I say it all the time but it’s worth saying again: Trump is, at heart, a reality TV show producer/star. He is always looking for moments that can be packaged to go BIG, that can draw eyeballs, that can frame a narrative the way he wants it framed.
The real question to my mind is whether Democrats give Trump what he wants. Party leaders have encouraged their rank and file to attend the speech and not make large dramatic and theatrical gestures during it. But, well, don’t count on everyone on the Democratic side listening.
Check this out from Axios:
Democratic lawmakers are discussing a litany of options to protest at President Trump's speech to Congress on Tuesday, including through outright disruption, a half dozen House Democrats told Axios…
….Some members have told colleagues they may walk out of the chamber when Trump says specific lines they find objectionable, lawmakers told Axios.
Criticism of transgender kids was brought up as a line in the sand that could trigger members to storm out, according to a House Democrat.
A wide array of props — including noisemakers — has also been floated
To me, this would be a major strategic mistake. Such tactics might appeal to the Democratic base but my sense is that the independent and swing voters that Democrats need to win over might be turned off by such performative antics. (And, before you tell me, I am well aware Republicans did just this sort of stuff during Biden’s speeches to Congress.)
Trump wants confrontation. Wants Democratic cat-calls. And walk-outs. It will make for good TV. And that’s always what he’s after.
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