Alexander: Trump's Triumph Is Demos' Disaster

When a political novice who has never held an elected office at any level arrives in the swamp as the newly elected president of the United States, there is going to be an adjustment period. While that adjustment period is certainly not over, the speech Donald Trump delivered to Congress Tuesday night outlining his vision for a unified nation and his agenda to “make America great” was outstanding. (Read our editors' analysis, “Trump 2.0.”)

I didn’t just fall off a turnip truck. I’ve watched more than 40 presidential addresses and this one ranks among the best first speeches delivered by a president in decades. Trump’s remarks about support for middle American families and workers, especially those trapped on violent urban plantations, his advocacy for supporting law enforcement and our military, and his moving tribute to Ryan Owen’s widow — this was very much like Ronald Reagan’s first address to Congress 36 years ago.

On November 9th last year, I was asked repeatedly by colleagues and friends across the nation if I was ecstatic about Donald Trump’s election. My response was, “No, I am relieved.”

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