NEW YORK // In his maiden address to a joint session of congress, US president Donald Trump managed the unthinkable.
For a little more than an hour on Tuesday night, he struck a softer, more conventional tone, calling for unity and American leadership in the world, words hailed by his supporters as a reset of his young administration but dismissed by critics as hollow promises.
He said he was open to immigration reform, a shift from his harsh campaign rhetoric on illegal immigrants, and invoked a new spirit of hope.
“A new national pride is sweeping across our nation,” he said during the prime-time address. “And a new surge of optimism is placing impossible dreams firmly within our grasp.”
The shift brought a slew of positive headlines on Wednesday. Even Mr Trump's critics at The New York Times – whose coverage of the president has been repeatedly lambasted by the man himself – called Tuesday night's address a "more hopeful vision".
Mr Trump, who has followed up previous evening speeches with early morning Twitter tirades at opponents, opted to bask in the approval of his supporters on Wednesday with a two-word tweet: “THANK YOU!”
White House officials told CNN they were delaying Wednesday’s planned signing of a new travel ban, suggesting they wanted the good will to resonate for more than 24 hours. Officials had earlier told the Associated Press the new ban would exclude Iraq from the list of countries whose citizens face a temporary ban on travelling to the United States.
Mr Trump's first weeks in office have been dominated by chaos, protests and plummeting approval ratings. A previous ban on arrivals from seven mostly Muslim nations provoked nationwide demonstrations before being overturned by the courts.
As a result, the speech to congress was billed by White House officials as a chance to reboot the administration.
Observers said it struck a less confrontational, almost presidential, tone for the first time.
Stuart Rothenberg, a Washington-based political analyst, said the gentler style will have been welcomed by Republicans but will do little to convince Mr Trump’s opponents.
“Republicans will have reasons to be hopeful that he’ll be a less vicious figure than he has been but I don’t think Democrats will believe this is a kinder and gentler Donald Trump,” he said.
“It’s all in the details.”
Chuck Schumer, who leads Democrats in the senate, dismissed it as another populist speech by a president who governs from the far right.
“What the president says to the working people and what the president does for the wealthy and special interests are at odds,” he said on Twitter.
In many ways, the hour-long speech was a conventional address by a new president. He ran through a laundry list of priorities – reforming health care, tightening border security and rebuilding the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
He defended his first month in office and glossed over his mistakes. Some of the biggest cheers came as he outlined a populist promise to restore manufacturing jobs.
The longest ovation came when Mr Trump introduced the widow of US Navy Seal William Ryan Owens, who was killed in a raid in Yemen last month. Carryn Owens sat with tears streaming down her face as Mr Trump paid tribute to a fallen hero.
“Ryan died as he lived: a warrior, and a hero – battling against terrorism and securing our nation,” he said.
Owens’ death, along with several civilians, raised questions about whether the president should have signed off on the mission.
Mr Trump defended his decision, saying: “I just spoke to General Mattis, who reconfirmed that, and I quote, ‘Ryan was a part of a highly successful raid that generated large amounts of vital intelligence that will lead to many more victories in the future against our enemies’.”
On immigration reform, he said: “I believe that real and positive immigration reform is possible, as long as we focus on the following goals: to improve jobs and wages for Americans, to strengthen our nation’s security, and to restore respect for our laws.”
Although he offered few details, it represents a break from the hardline position he has laid out since taking office.
His words were delivered in a sombre style, a break from the freewheeling candidate that revelled in extemporising on the campaign trail. He stuck largely to a script that suggested a president keen to leave behind partisan battles.
The darkest part of the speech came when he discussed “radical Islamic terrorism” – a phrase he used despite the misgivings of H R McMaster, his new national security adviser who worries that it alienates Muslim allies.
“As promised, I directed the department of defence to develop a plan to demolish and destroy ISIL – a network of lawless savages that have slaughtered Muslims and Christians, and men, women, and children of all faiths and beliefs,” said Mr Trump. “We will work with our allies, including our friends and allies in the Muslim world, to extinguish this vile enemy from our planet.”
Democrats received his words seated mostly in silence while Republicans stood for frequent ovations.
Paul Ryan, who leads Republicans in the house of representatives, described the address as a “home run”.
“President Trump delivered a bold, optimistic message to the American people,” he said. “We now have a government unified around a simple, but important principle: empowering the people – not Washington – is the way to build a better future for our country.”
foreign.desk@thentional.ae
