Here I mean not just the specific words Trump uses, but their overall aim. Normal presidents have employed words in the State of the Union mainly for public purposes: to inform, inspire, challenge and unite. Trump — with the apparent approval of congressional Republicans — conflates his political fortunes with the national interest. The second way Trump employs his power is to encourage hostility toward some of the most vulnerable members of the human family, including migrants and refugees. And any claim of victimization deserves the quality of justice that Trump himself provides.

Source: Washington Post February 03, 2020 21:11 UTC