I watched most of President Trump’s speech at the unprecedented Republican Mid-term Convention last week. I must admit that it is hard to give a description of what he said as he characteristically meandered all over the place throughout the two hours. I did not attempt to take notes but would like to offer a few thoughts on things that stuck out.
In the first place, I was struck by the manner, and not the matter of what he said. In all my years I have never seen a politician having such a good time while giving a speech. At age 80 he was so full of life that the speech could be called joyful despite the seriousness of some of the topics. He seemed to be really enjoying himself. In this respect, he was in stark contrast to any other politician in either party.
We just have to compare him with his Democratic predecessors in the Presidency. Whether you like Trump or not, you must admit that Barack Obama, or Joe Biden never exhibited the slightest sense of humor in their public utterances. Obama usually appeared as a scolding schoolmaster, who always used a teleprompter in delivering his carefully prepared speeches. Biden hardly spoke at all. In his four years in office he rarely gave a press conference. He even seemed reluctant to hold Cabinet meetings, apparently having little use for the motley crew that he had assembled.
Trump’s sense of humor, often self-deprecating, was obvious throughout. I cannot forget the way he described his encounter with French President Macron. His reproduction of the dialogue between two heads of state was almost comical.
Trump: Sir, you will have to raise your drug prices so that we can lower ours.
Macron: Mr. President, I won’t do that.
Trump: Oh yes you will, or I will impose tariffs of 50 to 100 percent on imports of French wines.
Macron: Please Mr. President, don’t do that.
In the end, Macron complied.
As far as the substance of Trump’s speech is concerned, it is clear that he was deliberately speaking to his Republican base. By now, he and his advisors know that there is no way that he can appeal to those who dislike him, some to the point of hatred. They will not listen, even if the hostile media would report his words. As far as I could see, only Fox News carried his speech. The President of the United States was giving a major address, and other networks declined to let their viewers hear it.
Trump and his advisors also know that Democratic Socialist primary victories have come with only 10 to 20 percent of eligible voters. These victories have been based on voter apathy. They have obviously decided to concentrate on getting out the Republican vote in the normally quiet off year elections. That is why he insists that he is on the ballot, and why he will campaign so vigorously this year.
He promised in the next two months to continue to list the many accomplishments of his administration that most Democrats, and even Republicans have never heard of because of the largely hostile media. I am a daily reader of the Wall Street Journal but have never seen it mentioned that drug prices in the USA have gone from the highest in the world to the lowest during his administration. Opponents will say he is lying, but the claim should be easy to fact check.
Despite fears of inflation and affordability he believes that the economy is booming and will continue to do so if Republicans can hold the House and Senate in November. If that happens, he promised that the government could afford to pay $5000 to each American adult in the same way a successful business will pay a dividend to its shareholders. Democrats, who usually delight in giving money away, will call it a bribe, and naturally oppose.
With this speech, the President came out fighting. It will be interesting to see if his strategy works in November.
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