WASHINGTON (AP) The White House says President Donald Trump will call for optimism and unity in his State of the Union address, using the moment to attempt a reset after two years of bitter partisanship and deeply personal attacks.
But will anyone buy it?
Skepticism will emanate from both sides of the aisle when Trump enters the House chamber for the prime-time address tonight to lawmakers and the nation. Democrats, emboldened after the midterm elections and the recent shutdown fight, see little evidence of a president willing to compromise. And even the presidents staunchest allies know that bipartisan rhetoric read off a teleprompter is usually undermined by scorching tweets and unpredictable policy maneuvers.
Still, the fact that Trumps advisers feel a need to try a different approach is a tacit acknowledgment that the presidents standing is weakened as he begins his third year in office.
The shutdown left some Republicans frustrated over his insistence on a border wall, something they warned him the new Democratic House majority would not bend on. Trumps approval rating during the shutdown dipped to 34 percent, down from 42 percent a month earlier, according to a recent survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders indicated the president would highlight what he sees as achievements and downplay discord.
Youre going to continue see the president push for policies that help continue the economic boom, Sanders said Monday night while appearing on Hannity on Fox News. Youre also going to see the president call on Congress and say, Look, we can either work together and get great things done or we can fight each other and get nothing done. And frankly, the American people deserve better than that.
But Washingtons most recent debate offered few signs of cooperation between Trump and Democrats. Under pressure from conservative backers, Trump refused to sign a government funding bill that did not include money for his long-sought border wall. With hundreds of thousands of Americans missing paychecks, Trump ultimately agreed to reopen the government for three weeks to allow negotiations on border security to continue.
With the new Feb. 15 funding deadline looming, Trump is expected to use his address to outline his demands, which still include funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Hes teased the possibility of declaring a national emergency to secure wall funding if Congress doesnt act, though it appeared unlikely he would take that step tonight. Advisers have also been reviewing options to secure some funding without making such a declaration.
Youll hear the State of the Union, and then youll see what happens right after the State of the Union, Trump told reporters.
The presidents address marks the first time he is speaking before a Congress that is not fully under Republican control. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who won plaudits from Democrats for her hardline negotiating tactics during the shutdown, will be seated behind the president a visual reminder of Trumps political opposition.
In a letter Monday night to House Democrats, Pelosi wrote that she hopes we will hear a commitment from the President on issues that have bipartisan support in the Congress and the Country, such as lowering the price of prescription drugs and rebuilding Americas infrastructure.
In the audience will be several Democrats running to challenge Trump in 2020, including Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.
Another Democratic star, Stacey Abrams, will deliver the partys response to Trump. Abrams narrowly lost her bid in November to become Georgias first black governor, and party leaders are aggressively recruiting her to run for Senate.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer previewed Democrats message for countering Trump, declaring Monday, The number one reason the state of the union has such woes is the president.
