Trump shuns Pelosi handshake and pivots to re-election campaign in State of the Union
Donald Trump faced his House Democratic accusers on Tuesday night with no intention of bringing up the impeachment charges they levied against him, instead focusing his annual State of the Union address on his accomplishments as he pivoted to his re-election campaign.
In an early remarkable moment, Speaker Nancy Pelosi extended her hand to the president after he handed her a bound copy of his remarks but he refused to shake her hand. GOP politicians responded with a "four more years" chant.
Mr Trump told the country he had delivered economic growth and done more than his predecessors to secure the southern border and keep the country safe. But he also sounded several campaign-trail themes as he seeks a second term.
"We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare," he said.
"Three years ago, we launched the 'great American comeback'. Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results," Mr Trump said. "In just three short years, we have shattered the mentality of American decline and we have rejected the downsizing of America's destiny. We are moving forward at a pace that was unimaginable just a short time ago, and we are never going back."
Democrats, however, reject his contention of an historically "inclusive" economy, saying he has failed to help average Americans.
The excerpts released by the White House did not, as one staffer previewed earlier Tuesday, feature the word impeachment. Aides signalled the president did not intend to bring it up directly - even as he faced his House Democratic accusers for the first time since they launched their Ukraine investigation last October.
"He understands where these fit into history," said one White House observer, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. "He's just not going to risk very much tonight."
Mr Trump instead will sell himself as an economic guru who deserves a second term despite the country's ongoing political divisions - and its deep chasm in how voters in both parties feel about him. He remains wildly popular with Republicans and deeply unpopular among Democrats.
"From the instant I took office, I moved rapidly to revive the US economy, slashing a record number of job killing-regulations, enacting historic and record-setting tax cuts, and fighting for fair and reciprocal trade agreements," he will say. "Many politicians came and went, pledging to change or replace NAFTA -- only to do absolutely nothing. But unlike so many who came before me, I keep my promises. Six days ago, I replaced NAFTA and signed the brand new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement into law."
Congress approved that pact with bipartisan vote tallies in both chambers after Mr Trump's top trade officials and Nancy Pelosi negotiated how it would be implemented.
When the president stepped foot inside the Capitol, he did so at the height of his popularity – despite a remarkably turbulent term and having been just the third sitting chief executive to be impeached. The address was the capper on a day that saw Mr Trump and White House aides take a victory lap after his big Iowa caucuses win and the state Democratic Party's inability to get their votes counted, with the Gallup organisation releasing a poll that put his approval rating at 49 percent, the highest of his presidency.
As Trump peacocked down the chamber's centre aisle, his political rivals were settling for moral victories.
"I think that we have pulled back a veil of behaviour totally unacceptable to our founders, and that the public will see this with a clearer eye, an unblurred eye," Ms Pelosi told the New York Times on Monday. "Whatever happens, he has been impeached forever. And now these senators, though they don't have the courage to assign the appropriate penalty, at least are recognising that he did something wrong."
Mr Trump's top aides had previewed a mostly upbeat address by the up-for-reelection president in which he would spend ample time talking about his accomplishments since taking office – especially the state of the US economy.
Hours before the president boarded his heavily armored SUV then walked inside the House chamber a few minutes later, senior Democrats were discounting his record since taking office.
"Time and again, President Trump and congressional Republicans have pursued policies that stack the deck against hard-working American families in favour of big corporations and the wealthiest few – among the most significant of these is the Trump-GOP Tax Scam that was signed into law in December 2017," Pelosi's office said in a blast email around lunchtime, contending that 2017 law has not made increased median household incomes.
"Over the past three years, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have made every effort to further enrich the wealthy few but they have gone out of their way to stand in the way of progress and economic justice for hard-working middle-class Americans," the speaker's office added
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