A few thoughts on tonight’s Trump’s speech.
First, Donald Trump has an historically divided party. But he spent most of his speech talking about himself, how well he’s done, how unfairly he’s been treated.
Second, trade and economic nationalism are now Trump’s driving themes. Immigration is there as an ‘oh yeah’. But it’s receded far into the background. I would say that Trump is pressing his dominance politics from the domestic sphere to the world abroad.
Third, he’s making his first nods to national unity. And yet, he speaks about “the Hispanics” much as he talks about China and the Chinese. Similarly, with “the African-Americans.” You can see he’s trying to shift tonally.
Fourth, Kevin Madden is saying right now on CNN that this is only the most recent example of Donald Trump finally giving that presidential speech – more subdued, more dignified and restrained. But every time before, only a day or two he’s back to being the same old Donald Trump. As Kevin put it, for this one moment, Trump lacks an enemy. It won’t be that way tomorrow.
