President Donald Trump delivered his third State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 4, before a divided Congress. Applauded by Republicans and boycotted by some prominent Democrats, the president’s address was centered around the state of the economy under his administration and made the case for a second Trump term. 

“I am thrilled to report to you tonight that our economy is the best it has ever been,” Trump said, touting his economic record. “America’s fortunes are on the rise.”

The president touched on several economic points: record low unemployment, a rising stock market, the tariffs placed on China, a new North American trade deal, deregulation and more. 

Economic success might be Trump’s ticket to a second term: “Nearly six in 10 Americans (59%) now say they are better off financially than they were a year ago, up from 50% last year,” according to a Gallup poll released on Wednesday, Feb. 5. 

Tuesday’s address was full of the populist rhetoric characteristic of Trump’s reelection campaign, with anti-elitist messages emphasizing the “America First” school of thought.

“Our agenda is relentlessly pro-worker, pro-family, pro-growth and, most importantly, pro-American,” he said. “This is a blue-collar boom.” 

“I think the president was pretty deceitful,” said David Green, professor of political science, offering a different perspective on the economic record Trump outlined. “If you scratch the surface, some of the claims he made were downright false.”

“The economy has improved while he’s in office, but that change began under Obama. Trump is not the sole source of that improvement,” said Mike Roller, a sophomore political science and public policy double major. “He’s a liar and he’s trying to mislead the country into thinking he should be reelected.” 

The Democratic response to the State of the Union has largely echoed this sentiment. 

Although a large portion of the country is satisfied with the economy, the various Democrats running to oust Trump tend to paint a different economic picture: one in which the main beneficiaries of Trump’s policies have been the elite and corporate America, not the working class. 

In drawing a distinction between himself and the Democrats running to unseat him in November, Trump’s largely cordial address took a divisive turn. He took aim at the alleged “socialism” of the “radical left” Democratic party. 

“One hundred thirty-two lawmakers in this room have endorsed legislation to impose a socialist takeover of our healthcare system, wiping out the private health insurance plans of 180 million Americans,” Trump said, referring to the Democratic members of Congress who have either sponsored or co-sponsored various single-payer health care bills. 

“To those watching at home tonight, I want you to know: We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare!” he added, likening the self-described democratic socialism of 2020 Democratic candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to the regime of the “socialist dictator” Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan leader. 

Juan Guaido, who is recognized by the U.S. and other Western countries as the legitimate president of Venezuela, was invited to the address and recognized in real time by Trump. 

“Socialism destroys nations,” the president said, speaking to Guaido. “But always remember, freedom unifies the soul.”

The shoutout to the Venezuelan opposition leader was just one of the dramatic, made-for-TV moments featured in the address. 

Although he did not mention his impeachment once in the 90-plus-minute speech, the tension between President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose Democratic caucus voted to impeach the president last December, was apparent.

Trump declined to shake Pelosi’s outstretched hand just before he began to speak. The speaker, upon the conclusion of the address, visibly ripped up a copy of his speech. 

Perhaps the most unorthodox moment of the night came when Trump informed Rush Limbaugh, the conservative talk radio host, that he was to be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor that can be awarded to a civilian.

In an unprecedented move, First Lady Melania Trump placed the medal around Limbaugh’s neck. 

“It felt like a Trump campaign rally,” said Mitchell Ulrich, a junior political science major. 

“The State of the Union felt more like a Trump re-election campaign event than our president keeping the American public updated on the status of our governmental systems,” Roller added. 

The New Hampshire primary, the nation’s second official nominating poll, is on Tuesday, Feb. 11.