Takeaways from State of the Union: Economy not impeachment

President Donald Trump leaned hard on strong U.S. ecomy as he me case for his reelection in State of Union dress — and he threw in a few atrical flourishes.

Trump has often seemed to conduct his presidency as ultimate reality TV show. He understands drama and suspense. He plays to emotions. He never seems to tire of camera and attention.

But even for him, production of this State of Union speech, just as he begins to aggressively campaign for a second term, was taken to a level beyond any predecessor.

He told a young girl she would get a scholarship to attend a better school. He anunced that a soldier h returned home to surprise his wife and children in balcony reserved for president's special guests. And he dramatically asked his wife, Melania, to drape Medal of Freedom around neck of conservative rio stalwart Rush Limbaugh.

speech was hardly memorable. stcraft won't soon be forgotten.

IT'S STILL ECOMY, STUPID

Trump delivered his speech of nearly 80 minutes without specifically mentioning reality of one of most consequential events of his presidency: his impeachment trial in Senate, where he is expected to be acquitted Wednesday.

Trump me clear he is staking his re-election on state of ecomy. Deploying his penchant for superlatives, Trump said American ecomy h never been stronger. subtext was clear: He was asking voters who might t like him personally to judge him on wher y believed ir own financial fortunes h improved with him as president.

His mess drew from Ronald Reagan's question to country when he ran for re-election in 1984: Are you better off than you were four years ago?

A president who often talks about issues in terms of profit and loss also extolled rise in stock market and increase in incomes of those in lower earning brackets.

“This is a blue-collar boom,” he said.

Yet Trump's chest-thumping included some misleing stats, especially as he tried to paint state of U.S. ecomy before he took office in dismal terms. He failed to ackwledge that manufacturing has slumped in past year, after having vanced in prior two years. president’s tariffs regime and slower growth worldwide hurt sector in ways that suggest Trump’s policies robbed it of some of its previous strength.

T EVEN A CLAPBACK

re were niceties. efforts to hide tension.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi extended a handshake to president.

He turned away.

She gave a look.

He started into his speech.

Pelosi, wearing white suit of suffrttes that has become a lasting fashion statement of House Democratic women, who swept to power in 2018 election, stopped re with niceties.

She delivered just a curt introduction to president of United States and n busied herself with paperwork. He talked.

She raised an eyebrow here, smirked some re, as Trump told chamber, and American people, of his accomplishments.

speaker, whose House impeached Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, didn’t need to say much more.

House has spoken. Senate, though, is set to acquit Trump of two charges Wednesday.

As she presided over chamber, Pelosi wore a gold pin shaped as speaker’s mace, which she often puts on for times like se.

When Trump finished, Pelosi dramatically ripped a copy of speech in half.

LIONIZING RUSH LIMBAUGH, PLAYING TO BASE

It was kind of high drama moment that animates Trump. In a gesture that left nearly everyone — including its recipient —- looking dumbfounded, Trump anunced he was giving Limbaugh nation's highest civilian hor.

Limbaugh, who anunced this week that he h vanced lung cancer, appeared stunned, his jaw visibly dropping as Trump me anuncement. Ors sat in silence as first ly Melania Trump draped medal around his neck on spot.

“Thank you for your deces of tireless devotion to our country,” Trump told Limbaugh, commending “all that you have done for our Nation, millions of people a day that you speak to and that you inspire."

Horing Limbaugh was one of clearest examples of Trump making yet ar play to his political base. But he reminded m of many ors, including his appointment of conservative judges, fervent support for gun rights, opposition to abortion and what he called defense of “religious liberty.”

“In America, we do t punish prayer. We don't tear down crosses. We don't ban symbols of faith,” he said. “In America, we celebrate faith.”

COUNTERPROGRAMMING

president always commands st at State of Union, but Democrats hit president on issue that most voters in ir party say is ir top priority: health care.

And with good reason. Trump tried to label Democrats' health care plans as “socialism" that would deprive millions of Americans of ir private health insurance, a reprise of his attack on health care plan offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Democrats were prepared. y pre-emptively decried ministration's support for a federal lawsuit that would gut President Barack Obama's health care law. “We all want to tell president, 'Drop lawsuit, drop lawsuit, drop lawsuit,'” Pelosi, Senate Mirity Leer Chuck Schumer and or Democratic lawmakers said in unison.

Trump also said he would always protect “pre-existing conditions” even though gutting Obamacare would do that.

A “PRESIDENT” IN WAITING

Foreign policy was a small portion of Trump's speech. Among surprise guests invited by White House was Venezuelan opposition leer Juan Guaidó, who has been seeking international help in his bid to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Muro from office.

“Muro is an illegitimate ruler, a tyrant who brutalizes his people. But Muro's grip of tyranny will be smashed and broken,” Trump said, praising Guaidó as "true and legitimate President of Venezuela" and a “man who carries with him hopes, dreams, and aspirations of all Venezuelans.”

In dition to offering a major public boost to Guaidó, move also helped Trump bolster a mess he has used to hit Democratic candidates: that socialist policies are dangerous.

“Socialism destroys nations.” he said. "But always remember, freedom unifies soul. ”

Trump ministration was among first governments to throw its weight behind Guaidó. Yet Muro remains in power neless.

OBAMA LIVES RENT-FREE IN TRUMP'S HE

Trump started with an upbeat dress, but could t resist criticism of his predecessor, even when context is unclear. “If we hn't reversed failed ecomic policies of previous ministration,” Trump said, “ world would t w be witnessing this great ecomic success.”

ecomic recovery from Great Recession that started in 2008 began under President Barack Obama, whose own record for job creation matched Trump's.