I watched the State of the Union address filled with hope that President Donald Trump would deliver a strong message. He did not disappoint!
He began with some of his most often-repeated half-truths and outright lies. Throughout the speech, there were the expected bits of misinformation and misdirection. And what would a Trump speech be without the childish taunts and insults?
Trump went above and beyond this time. He used Purple Heart and Medal of Honor recipients as props, as if the event was a campaign rally. Of course, these heroes deserve their honors, but what did that have to do with the State of the Union? Aren’t those honors more suitably given in White House ceremonies?
There were several other campaign props, none more notable than the Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team. I love hockey, the fastest and most intense team sport there is, and I’m a huge Blackhawks fan. The Olympics, winter and summer, are must-see TV in our house. Connor Hellebuyck, goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets, is a decorated NHL stalwart. Trump pointed out, correctly, that several athletes have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Those athletes were honored when their playing days were over and were tapped for their social and philanthropic efforts as well as their physical skills. Hellebuyck isn’t there yet.
I wonder: How many of those singled out by Trump awoke the next day with the realization that they had been used?
Beyond Trump vowing to continue the wildly unpopular immigration tactics and going around the Supreme Court tariff decision, no policy initiatives were offered.
The president delivered, all right. It was just more of the usual nonsense.
— Len Levy, Glenview
For shame, Democrats
In 2019, Joe Biden launched his presidential campaign focusing on uniting the country, rebuilding the middle class and offering an alternative to political, social and racial divisions.
So, what did he do? He and his party divided our country and failed the middle and lower classes with his rocketing increase in inflation. Now, years later, the Democrats continue their drive toward division.
They were elected and paid to represent their constituents in the federal government. Defaming the president and boycotting a State of the Union address are despicable!
— John Skaritka, Hampshire
Duckworth’s absence
I may not agree with everything the president does, but I am very disappointed Sen. Tammy Duckworth did not attend the speech. I voted for Duckworth to represent me; the least she can do is attend the biggest speech to Congress the president gives every year.
I am also very disappointed with the current candidates to replace Sen. Dick Durbin, I want to send someone to Washington with ideas and the ability to reach across the aisle to create solutions to America’s problems — not just fight, fight, fight or hurl expletives at the president.
— Rob Scharf, Mundelein
Campaign promise
I listened to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech that contained many truths but also had many misleading or dishonest statements. What is sad is how he left out the campaign promise he made to the voters that if elected, he would quickly resolve the Ukraine-Russia war. In reality, he has put Ukrainians in a position of weakness by cutting military weapon support. Increasing that support would put Ukraine in a strong position of bargaining a peace treaty.
Trump has no intention of strongly challenging Russia’s invasion; thus, he won’t fully arm the Ukrainians so they can bargain from a point of strength.
— Raymond Hubbard, Sandwich
Undemocratic actions
In President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, his comments toward bipartisanship were: “These people are crazy, I’m telling you. They’re crazy. … Boy, oh boy. We’re lucky we have a country, with people like this. Democrats are destroying our country. But we’ve stopped it just in the nick of time, didn’t we?”
The majority of voters disagree with the president’s assessment. The political polls show that many Republican candidates running for office in the midterm elections this fall are lagging behind their Democratic opponents. Trump is truly aware of these findings and is doing everything in his power to destabilize that election. His undemocratic actions greatly undermine what happened 250 years ago: 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the Declaration of independence on July 4, 1776.
— Sam Solomon, Deerfield
Dishonor to medal
Let’s not underestimate the trivialization of the Medal of Honor at Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.
The Medal of Honor is our nation’s highest military honor, which is awarded sparingly. It is given for actions while engaged in combat against an enemy of the United States, for the highest level of bravery, sacrifice and integrity while exhibiting a deep love of country and a desire to always do what is right. “All recommendations require thorough reports on the act itself, the battlefield and its setting; at least two sworn eyewitness statements; and any other compelling evidence that can be gathered. Recommendation packets must be approved all the way up the military command structure,” the Medal of Honor website states.
I do not mean to diminish the actions of the Army pilot or Navy captain awarded the Medal of Honor at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address; they gave more than I did during my brief tour in the Navy years ago. Awards may well be appropriate — at a minimum, a Purple Heart — but for someone wounded in a Trump-ordered raid less than 60 days ago and a centenarian veteran who fought 74 years ago, it seems to be insincere, improper, and both politically premature and politically manipulative.
It’s another attack by this administration on a deeply respected, time-honored American institution.
The Medal of Honor deserves our highest respect.
— Joe Szczepaniak, Wheaton
Trump’s reality show
President Donald Trump turned the State of the Union address into a reality show with all his guests and the presentations for them. More political showmanship than the state of the union
Democrats should have countered on their response with Jeffrey Epstein survivors and the families of citizens killed by federal agents while protesting in Minneapolis, along with those shot and brutalized in Chicago.
— Stephen T. White, Buffalo Grove
Diminishing a victory
Regarding the editorial “Team USA showed America at its best” (Feb. 24): The Olympics were, once again, glorious. The achievement of the U.S. men’s hockey team was breathtaking. That feeling of national pride was undone by none other than the president of the United States.
During a call into the locker room of the men’s team, he once again showed his true feelings by making a joke about having to invite the women’s gold medal-winning hockey team or he “would be impeached.” The men’s team thought that funny, along with the beer-guzzling director of the FBI (on a business trip using taxpayer funds). Truth be told, eight of America’s 12 gold medals were won by women. The women’s team declined the president’s invitation to visit.
This was a cheap and disgraceful end to a wonderful sporting event designed to bring the world closer together, not alienate half of the globe’s population.
— Joe Friedman, Chicago
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