Despite Trump’s efforts, his address didn’t change already set minds

President Trump’s State of the Union address was, by most measures, strategically focused and disciplined. Trump sought to frame his presidency as bringing in a new era of American strength and prosperity. Hearkening back to Ronald Reagan’s “morning in America,” Trump spoke decisively about the “golden age” the U.S. was entering under his administration. 

Trump also drew contrasts between Republicans and Democrats, highlighting differences on immigration, economic policy and the role of government.  

That said, early polling suggests that even though the speech was well received by those who watched, it did little to change the broader political landscape — a reminder that a well-executed speech does not always translate into a political windfall.

A CNN flash poll conducted immediately after Trump’s speech found that 64 percent of those who watched rated it positively. Similarly, an identical 64 percent said that Trump’s policies would move the country in the right direction, while 62 percent said the president’s policies would move the economy in the right direction. And the “share who believed Trump has the right priorities” jumped 10 points, from 44 percent before the speech to 54 percent immediately after.  

However, these numbers should be interpreted cautiously, as CNN noted that the sample skewed 13 points more Republican than the country overall, thus a more favorable view is to be expected. Moreover, while those numbers seem impressive, comparisons to Trump’s 2019 State of the Union suggest a diminished impact.  

After his 2019 address, 76 percent felt Trump would move the economy in........

© The Hill