US President Donald Trump showed a different side in his first address to Congress. This Trump was part deal-maker, part salesman, asking for unity and trying to repackage his populist message in more palatable terms.He was less combative, less thin-skinned and more inclusive.And where five weeks ago at his inauguration, he slammed Washington’s politicians as out-of-touch elitists who prospered at the expense of the public, his message on Tuesday night was different: I need you, Republicans and Democrats alike.Always a showman, the TV reality star-turned-politician laid out plenty of promises: A massive infrastructure and public works programme; tax cuts for the middle class; immigration reform; a healthcare overhaul; an education bill.All of it will require congressional action, likely by different coalitions of conservatives, moderates and Democrats. “This is our vision. This is our mission,” Trump said. “But we can only get there together.”Trump, a Republican who has taunted Democrats over his 2016 election victory and publicly fumed as they held up his Cabinet nominees, did not criticise them this time. Repeatedly, he asked for their help, arguing the country’s problems demanded bipartisan solutions.After weeks of attacks on the media, political rivals and the judges who ruled against his executive order to ban travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, Trump finally eased off, although his proposals were short on specifics.“It was a softer tone and he gave a speech and not a tweet and that’s more suitable when you’re president of the United States,” said Democratic Representative Peter Welch. “The challenges are going to be the details on his policies.” “He was presidential tonight in a way he has not been before this,” said Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak. The address appeared to show some recognition by the White House that Trump’s bombastic go-it-alone style has its limits. After a parade of executive orders, Trump now must turn his attention to the big-ticket items on his agenda requiring legislative action.Despite the softer tone, Trump’s divisive policies and months of hostile rhetoric will not be forgotten by his adversaries.Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the leading Democrat in the US House of Representatives, said in a statement: “The president’s speech was utterly disconnected from the cruel reality of his conduct.”Congressional Democrats said they liked Trump’s infrastructure programme, his childcare tax credit, his call to reduce the prices of prescription drugs, and his vow to preserve some key elements of former President Barack Obama’s signature 2010 Obamacare health insurance law.To be sure, the more foreboding elements of Trump’s campaign rhetoric were still present, albeit slightly dialed-down. As he did during the campaign, he portrayed the country in ruinous economic shape and plagued by terrorism, drugs, gangs, and illegal immigrants.It remains to be seen how far Trump will go to win over his critics.
March 01, 2017 | 10:32 PM