If you’re anything like me, you watched Trump’s State of the Union speech and afterwards thought “well, those were certainly all words.”
But nothing that he said tonight came as a surprise to anyone. It’s more of the same senseless drivel that comes from Trump and his administration.
Look, we knew this was going to be an epic shitshow before it even started, and that’s not just because we knew Trump would be talking for an extended period of time. Their guest list alone was a dead giveaway:
Trump SOTU guests include: family of couple killed by unauthorized immigrant; human trafficking investigator; survivors of Pittsburgh massacre; Alice Johnson; recovering opioid addict; re-hired sawmill employee; child cancer survivor; kid bullied for being named Joshua Trump.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 5, 2019
The linchpin for Trump is to use fear as a primary motivator to get things done. He’s not going to look at actual data and make a reasoned argument for/against anything. He’s going to use fear, because fear is easy to sell to his base.
So it’s no surprise that the guest list features a story about an unauthorized immigrant (despite the overall crime rate of immigrants being lower than non-immigrants), a story about human trafficking (a very real problem that Trump is hijacking), a recovering opioid addict (a desperate attempt by Trump to strengthen the categorically false narrative that a border wall would reduce the amount of opioids in the United States), a blue collar worker (okay?), a child cancer survivor (one of the best ways to demonstrated that gods don’t exist is cancer in children), and, of course, showing how “crazy” the left is by bringing a child who happens to be named Trump. #JeSuisJoshuaTrump
Fear is easy. Facts are hard. And getting Trump to acknowledge facts is impossible.
The biggest fear-based selling point Trump has, and possibly his only play at this point, is the OG of all Trump campaign promises: the wall. You know, the one that Mexico was supposed to pay for?
https://twitter.com/aSciEnthusiast/status/1091469907487875073
Because when you look at facts, you realize that there isn’t a crisis on our southern border. A caravan of migrants isn’t going to ‘invade’ (their word) the United States. A border wall won’t stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
How do we know there is no crisis on the southern border and that the wall won’t change anything?
Well, we just had the biggest fentanyl bust in history. The bust happened in Arizona, where Border Control agents seized enough fentanyl to kill 100,000,000 people in addition to nearly 400 pounds of methamphetamine.
But the caveat to all this is the fact that it came in through a legal port of entry – a wall wouldn’t have changed a damn thing here. And the size of the shipment shows that drug makers south of our confident in their ability to get drugs through legal ports of entry, too. The economics of it are simple – they were concerned that they would get caught, they wouldn’t have sent nearly as much. If they thought there was a high probably of their shipment would being detected, they would have sent a smaller amount, as it would be a less risky investment.
The speech
He started out the speech listing the “accomplishments” of the administration. Unsurprisingly, there was talk of D-Day and the first Moon landing. You know, things that are relevant to Trump.
Two things stuck out the most to me. First, early in the speech he said:
An economic miracle is taking place in the United States — and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way!
He’s kind of telegraphing his inner fears, I think. I found this side-by-side comparison rather amusing, though:
"If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation." – Trump's SOTU, 2019
"I believe the time has come to bring that investigation and the other investigations of this matter to an end. One year of Watergate is enough." – Nixon's SOTU, 1974
— Philip Bump (@pbump) February 6, 2019
The other moment was near the end, when he talked about late-term abortions, which we covered earlier last week:
Babies are not ripped from thee womb moments before birth. That is a lie. I am an OB/GYN trained in abortion after 24 weeks so I get to say that. #SOTU #ProLie #StateoftheUterus
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) February 6, 2019
The thalamocortical plate is not connected before 24-25 weeks. If you don't know what that means you shouldn't be discussing fetal pain. I am an OB/GYN and pain medicine physician. #SOTU #ProLie #StateoftheUterus
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) February 6, 2019
The President is promoting a #forcedbirth agenda, if he cared about fetal life he would be talking about free, accessible maternity care; banning tobacco; mandatory vaccines; and contraception to space pregnancies by 18 months #SOTU #Forcedbith #ProLie #StateoftheUterus
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) February 6, 2019
But the other parts of the speech were predictable and fairly boring.
As conservative pundit Rick Wilson eloquently predicted, the speech is nothing more than an advertisement for his wall, and many members of the media will continue to fumble the opportunity:
The media will, of course, fall into one of the traps they so frequently do when it comes to this president. They continue to treat Trump as if his statements, proposals, and policy announcements have any actual weight or merit. These items are added to the Trump speech only at the last moment, and only as concessions by a president whose advisers have as much luck holding his interest on policy as they would teaching a dog Sanskrit. You’ll hear some big, sweeping, popular ideas in the speech tonight. “We’re going to eliminate AIDS by 2030. We’re going to open a Whataburger on the Moon by April! Puppies and kittens for everyone!” They’ll sound normal, and even presidential. Ignore them. These ideas and policies are meaningless tripe, the product of focus-grouped and rigorously crafted message-testing. They are the product of a man who sits on a throne of lies, written by the most mendacious public “servants” in recorded memory. Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Kellyanne Conway’s scent will be all over these policies. (Jared’s scent is of sandalwood and tightly suppressed rage.)
And Rick was right in his article – it was nothing more than a speech about the wall.
Trump SOTU excerpt, as written: "No issue better illustrates the divide between America’s WORKING CLASS and America’s POLITICAL CLASS than illegal immigration. Wealthy politicians and donors push for open borders while living their lives behind walls and gates and guards."
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) February 6, 2019
This part was hilarious.
There was no mention of one of the greatest threats facing us, though: climate change.
Here’s a (mostly) chronological fact check and response to his speech from people whose opinions I value:
Americans overwhelmingly don’t want it https://t.co/dew7zKjWAI
— Brooke Binkowski (@brooklynmarie) February 6, 2019
Here’s an assortment of fact checks and other noteworthy tweets:
TRUMP: "If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation."
MUELLER: "Whatever, bro."
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 6, 2019
FACT: The criminal justice reform bill President Trump signed into law uses taxpayer money to fund faith-based programs in prisons. This pressures inmates to participate in religious programs in order to have their sentences reduced https://t.co/fHFvmyuWoW #SOTU
— Secular Coalition for America (@seculardotorg) February 6, 2019
Fact check: The unemployment rate has ticked back up https://t.co/WGz0LwNp6Q
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 6, 2019
Trump injects caravan fear into SOTU speech: "I have ordered another 3,750 troops to our Southern Border to prepare for the tremendous onslaught."
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 6, 2019
SOTU Fact check: Trump said his admin “launched an unprecedented economic boom.”
While the economy has expanded under Trump, it follows a trend that began under Obama. The GDP increased 4.2% in the 2nd quarter of 2018. But Obama surpassed that level 4x during his presidency. pic.twitter.com/bllpiygVCz
— POLITICO (@politico) February 6, 2019
#ThanksObama
The man who bragged about grabbing women by the pussy js talking about sexual assault of young girls and women #SOTU
— Jennifer Gunter (@DrJenGunter) February 6, 2019
Donald Trump says, "In the last 2 years, our brave ICE officers made 266,000 arrests of criminal aliens." Trump inflates the numbers by counting both charges and convictions, as he did during his recent immigration address.. https://t.co/J3gbERPBH2
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) February 6, 2019
Fact check: Trump says “1 in 3 women is sexually assaulted on the long journey north.” But there’s less to that number than meets the eye. https://t.co/Rpz00zdH4L
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 6, 2019
Isn't one of the guests in the audience an undocumented former Trump worker?
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) February 6, 2019
STILL TRUE 👇 https://t.co/h1999qibu4
— ACLU (@ACLU) February 6, 2019
President Trump used his State of the Union speech to call for the rejection of “the politics of revenge, resistance, and retribution,” shortly after attacking Democratic leaders https://t.co/6fw5zFkpf4
— POLITICO (@politico) February 6, 2019
Some of Trump's ad-libs are v. significant.
The prepared text: "I want people to come into our country, but they have to come in legally."
What he said: "I want people to come into our country, IN THE LARGEST NUMBERS EVER, but they have to come in legally."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 6, 2019
Trump at Miss Teen USA: "The funniest is that I’ll go backstage before a show, & everyone's getting dressed, & no men are anywhere. I'm allowed to go in because I'm the owner of the pageant. You know, they're standing there with no clothes. ‘Is everybody okay?’"
— Virginia Heffernan (@page88) February 6, 2019
Trump falsely said El Paso "used to have extremely high rates of violent crime — one of the highest in the entire country," but now it is "one of the safest cities" because of a border wall. In fact, it was already among the safest cities before wall. https://t.co/tSRqak1WPY
— FactCheck.org (@factcheckdotorg) February 6, 2019
If it seems like these are jumping around, that’s because Trump did:
https://twitter.com/poniewozik/status/1092981960690024449
.@realdonaldtrump wants to help women globally? Why did he endanger key health & protection services for some of the world’s most marginalized women & girls, including in humanitarian crises by cutting off @UNFPA? And then doubling down and doing it again? https://t.co/s2gONiZpn2 pic.twitter.com/qd22cy9kjZ
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) February 6, 2019
It was a rather boring speech, as Chris Cillizza pointed out:
https://twitter.com/CillizzaCNN/status/1092980195475238912
Reminder: Mike Pence’s anti-choice policies caused a literal HIV epidemic in Indiana. #SOTU https://t.co/uzze23iP5Q
— Reproductive Freedom for All (@reproforall) February 6, 2019
^^^^ I am from Indiana. This is all true. ^^^^
Not one thing POTUS just said about abortion in his #SOTU speech is medically accurate or based in any evidence-based research. Not his fabricated description of the law in New York. Not the bill in Virginia. Not how abortions are performed. Not one bit.https://t.co/sjhSrt9lVy
— Dr. Daniel Grossman (@DrDGrossman) February 6, 2019
Women have the right to choose what happens to their own bodies – not government – and definitely not religion. #ReproRights #SOTU #ChurchStateSeparation
— American Humanist Association (@americnhumanist) February 6, 2019
This is a fact. Well documented. https://t.co/xgYvcObKXt
— Phil (Newsletter link in bio) Plait (@BadAstronomer) February 6, 2019
Unity? Trump turns from Venezuela to take a swipe at Dems: "Here, in the United States, we are alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country. America was founded on liberty and independence — not government coercion, domination and control."
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 6, 2019
President Trump said that "if there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation."
Trump essentially fired off a warning shot to Democrats, NPR’s @DomenicoNPR says. https://t.co/4GEGfQDt1a pic.twitter.com/qP8tJ5LMF8
— NPR (@NPR) February 6, 2019
Afghanistan: With all the talk about peace and US troop withdrawal, it’s important to make sure women don’t become a bargaining chip: https://t.co/e1TfXOZpgT #SOTU pic.twitter.com/HGUSbvg2nC
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) February 6, 2019
Fact check: Trump’s claim that MS-13 members are being removed “by the thousands” is dubious. https://t.co/u9sQcF55TC
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 6, 2019
Having *really* struggled through a last set at the gym earlier today, I can relate to this part of the speech.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 6, 2019
Palette cleansing
To get the nasty taste out of your brain, here are some of the more comical tweets that I enjoyed:
Nancy catching up on paperwork like a boss. pic.twitter.com/0r0m4MN18P
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 6, 2019
Trump Claims Greatest Threat Facing Nation Toys Coming To Life While Owner Not In Room https://t.co/qmShnthxG5 #SOTU pic.twitter.com/ua2VG0Uc7I
— The Onion (@TheOnion) February 6, 2019
So the guy who came up with
Crazy Joe Biden, Cryin’ Chuck, Crooked Hillary, Cheatin' Obama, Pocahontas, Horseface, Slimeball Jim Comey, Liddle Adam Schitt, Low-IQ Maxine Waters, and MS-13 Lover Nancy Pelosi, feels bad that a kid got bullied because his last name is Trump. Lol— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) February 5, 2019
Resting Mitch Face returns! #SOTU pic.twitter.com/dfRsfuPNHw
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) February 6, 2019
"We will outspend and out-innovate all others by far" is some truly sublime speech-writing.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 6, 2019
FINALLY, a President who opposes childhood cancer.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) February 6, 2019
This Is Not The America That Welcomed My Immigrant Parents With Muted Xenophobia https://t.co/jnjTtLR9Dv pic.twitter.com/LuigRCAwuo
— ClickHole (@ClickHole) February 6, 2019
He never saw this speech before tonight.
— Millard Fillmore (@MillardFillmor1) February 6, 2019
Guests’ Chairs Tilt, Spray Water At Them During First-Ever 4D State Of The Union Address https://t.co/SkqfJdMr5C #SOTU pic.twitter.com/7Nsbi2Np6p
— The Onion (@TheOnion) February 6, 2019
I’m sure it has it therapeutic benefits, but personally, I think live-tweeting through the #SOTU is the equivalent of narrating your own root canal.
— Seth Andrews (@SethAndrewsTTA) February 6, 2019
Final tally: 45
Little on the nose https://t.co/sCqUeY5juA
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) February 6, 2019
This last one isn’t related at all to the SOTU, I just thought it was cute:
https://twitter.com/radtoria/status/1092827992777056256
Phew.