Trump eyes 2020 election with State of the Union speech designed to please conservatives

President made very modest effort to act as national unifier

Donald Trump has reached out to his base of supporters with a State of the Union address that seemed more designed to bolster his chances in 2020 than act as the unifying occasion some in the White House suggested it would be.

Over the course of 65-minutes, the president doubled down stubbornly on some of his controversial policies and threw in some new suggestions – one of them in particular designed to appeal to evangelical Christians and conservatives. He offered just a handful of crumbs to those looking for something to pull the nation together at a time of uncertainty.

The president began with language that suggested he may indeed be seeking to appeal across party lines.

“The agenda I will lay out this evening is not a Republican agenda or a Democrat agenda. It is the agenda of the American People,” he declared.

“In the 20th century, America saved freedom, transformed science, and redefined the middle class standard of living for the entire world to see. Now, we must step boldly and bravely into the next chapter of this great American adventure, and we must create a new standard of living for the 21st century.”

But his address very quickly turned into a defence of his administration’s most divisive policies, including his demand to build a border wall and to crack down on immigration.

Democrats, who now control the House of Representatives, have repeatedly refuse to provide him the $5.7bn he has demanded for a wall, and his refusal to compromise on the issue led to the biggest government shutdown in history, and another one is potentially just days away.

Despite this, while he stopped short of declaring a national emergency – one possible tactic that would secure him the money for a wall without funding from Congress - he termed illegal immigration “an urgent national crisis”. One commentator calculated he spent 17 minutes talking about immigration.

“In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall, but the proper wall never got built. I will get it built,” Mr Trump said. “So let’s work together, compromise, and reach a deal that will truly make America safe.”

He added: “My administration has sent to Congress a commonsense proposal to end the crisis on our southern Border. It includes humanitarian assistance, more law enforcement, drug detection at our ports, closing loopholes that enable child smuggling, and plans for a new physical barrier, or wall, to secure the vast areas between our ports of entry. This is a smart, strategic, see-through steel barrier — not just a simple concrete wall.”

The president, who revealed he will meet again with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this month in Vietnam, boasted of the strength of the economy, and the record low unemployment. He used that issue to attack the investigation being carried out by special counsel Robert Mueller into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election.

“An economic miracle is taking place in the United States — and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations. If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way,” he said.

In comments that appeared directed at evangelical Christians who have been such an important part of his base of supporters, he also said he would would push for legislation to end late-term abortions and protect babies “who can feel pain in the mother’s womb”.

“There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our nation saw in recent days. Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments before birth,” said Mr Trump. “These are living, feeling, beautiful, babies who will never get the chance to share their love and dreams with the world.”

He added: “I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb. Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: all children — born and unborn — are made in the holy image of God.”

The Democratic response was delivered by Stacey Abrams, who last November narrowly lost winning her attempt to become governor of Georgia. Had she done so, she would have been the first African American woman to hold such a position. As it was, on Tuesday night, she became the first black woman to deliver an official response to the State of the Union address.

In her remarks, she accused Mr Trump and other Republicans of abandoning working Americans and fomenting partisan discord.

Speaking from a union hall in Atlanta, Ms Abrams combined her party’s vision of a more unified society with her personal story as a black daughter of the Deep South.

“These were our family values: faith, service, education and responsibility,” she said, arguing for “this uncommon grace of community,” she said.

“We do not succeed alone. In these United States, when times are tough, we can persevere because our friends and neighbours will come for us.”