Donald Trump sounds more presidential, yet stays a populist

EVEN in the midst of great solemnity, while giving the most presidential-sounding speech of his career, Donald Trump could not quite shake his fascination with ratings. The moment came during an address to a joint session of Congress on February 28th. Mr Trump had just praised the heroism of a Navy SEAL, Senior Chief William “Ryan” Owens, killed in Yemen on a counter-terrorism mission in the first days of the Trump administration. Now television screens across America filled with close-ups of the commando’s wife, as she wept in her VIP guest’s seat high above the House chamber. Impressed by the length of the standing ovation accorded Mrs Owens, the president departed from his prepared script: “And Ryan is looking down right now, you know that, and he’s very happy because I think he just broke a record,” he beamed at the young widow. 

As so often with Mr Trump, the moment revealed a divided America. His tribute to the Navy SEAL was called beautiful and sincere by Trump-admirers. It was deemed crassly cynical by his critics, who saw it as an attempt to cow reporters and political opponents asking sharp questions about a dangerous mission in Yemen that went badly...Continue reading