If, like me, you watched President Trump’s State of the Union address tonight, then you know the state of the union is divided, and the president is doing his best to divide it even more. Never have I seen a president so antagonistic to half the Congress during this—or any—address.
It’s obvious that he doesn’t think of himself as the president of the entire country, but only of those who support him. Everything he says boils down to the same few thoughts: American citizens who do not support him are his enemies; he is the greatest and smartest anything ever; and he knows how everyone should live their lives.
He has no sense of dignity: He stood on that rostrum awarding medals to actual heroes, while joking that he wants to give himself the Medal of Honor.
He has no sense of unity: He spoke only to the Republican members of Congress, repeatedly saying of the Democratic members sitting in that chamber “they.” The only “we” in his mind is “me and those who support me.”
He has no sense of the awesome power that he could be commanding if he respected the office he holds: He is a jumped-up street thug, thinking the only power at his command is “might makes right.”
He has no sense of what the United States of America truly is or should be. But he certainly does love the sound of his own voice.
Ian Randal Strock 