There will reportedly be no Rocket Man talk in President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union Address tonight. According to White House officials, the president’s message will be “very unifying” with a “tone of bipartisanship.” The American people should have full confidence that the president’s speechwriters will do their very best to make it so the State of the Union isn’t a complete sh*tshow — excuse me, sh*thole (or sh*thouse, as generously clarified by National Review Editor Rich Lowry).
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But I digress with that remark — as unsurprising as it may be that the president used some s-word to describe African countries, as a journalist, the conflicting reports on that incident make me wary. However, if you are unable to tune in to the State of the Union tonight, fear not. Trump has, more than any other president, privileged Americans by directly communicating his views on all the major issues via Twitter.
So, in the spirit of publishing UI students’ State of the Union thoughts “in their own words” today, here is Trump in his own words:
On socioeconomic inequality:
Somebody please inform Jay-Z that because of my policies, Black Unemployment has just been reported to be at the LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2018
On health care:
Republican Senators are working very hard to get there, with no help from the Democrats. Not easy! Perhaps just let OCare crash & burn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2017
On the role of the free press:
The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2017
Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 12, 2017
On foreign relations:
Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me "old," when I would NEVER call him "short and fat?" Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend – and maybe someday that will happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2017
I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2017
On bipartisanship:
Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office “begging” for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2017