President Donald Trump went to a hockey victory party on Tuesday night and a State of the Union Address broke out.
Trump weaved a pageant of national unity, rampant prosperity and American greatness in the opening stanzas of his annual report on “the hottest country in the world” at a moment when his popularity is near historic lows. His habitual search for silver linings wasn’t just for show. He needed to use his biggest TV audience of the year to win back Americans souring on his one-time strengths on immigration and economic policy.
The president took inspiration from members of the Olympic gold medal-winning Team USA men’s hockey team in the gallery of the House of Representatives — who Sunday pulled off the rare feat in a tortured political age of giving both red and blue America something to cheer.
Skillful, moving tributes to American heroes punctuated the speech — that often resembled an awards ceremony and a patriotic dress rehearsal for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations later this year. Trump leavened his abrasive image by doling out honors, including to a 100-year-old Korean War Veteran, and reunited a woman with her unc
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