The Address was watched by 46.8 million viewers, and aired live on 12 major television networks. Viewership statistics do not include views from online live streams. There were also 15.2 million interactions regarding the Address on social media.[5]
Backgroundedit
Article II, Section 3, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution states that the president "shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."[6]
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi sent an invitation to President Donald Trump on January 3, 2019, to deliver a "State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 in the House Chamber." The invitation was sent just hours after her election to Speaker of the House.[7][8][9] On January 6, President Trump commented to reporters that "I will be making the State of the Union on January 29. And I look forward to it. I look forward to it. And I look forward to speaking, really, before the world. We have a lot of great things to say."[10][11]
Originally scheduled for January 29,[14] House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, communicated on January 16 that pursuant to the month-long shutdown of the federal government, citing fears of security concerns regarding unpaid Secret Service members, the President could reschedule the Address or submit a written State of the Union to Congress.[15][16][17][Notes 1][18] Pelosi formally communicated on January 23 that a resolution authorizing the speech in the House chamber would not be considered until the shutdown had ended.[19] Trump, who had earlier mulled giving the speech in an alternative location,[20] announced he would wait to give the State of the Union Address after the end of the shutdown.[21]
The shutdown was suspended on January 25,[22][Notes 2] and on January 28, Pelosi issued an invitation for Trump to deliver the Address in the Capitol Building on February 5, 2019.[23] On the same day, Trump accepted Pelosi's proposed date.[24][25]
Addressedit
The State of the Union Address was given at 9:00 p.m. EST on February 5, 2019. President Trump began the address without an introduction from Speaker Pelosi, breaking with a SOTU custom.[26] During the speech, Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi sat behind Trump. U.S. Secretary of EnergyRick Perry was named the designated survivor and was at an undisclosed location during the address so that, in case of a catastrophe, the continuity of government would be upheld.[13]
During the address, President Trump announced his next summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The summit took place on February 27–28, 2019 in Vietnam.[27]
In his Address, Trump asserted that "The savage gang MS-13 now operates in at least 20 different American states and they almost all come through our southern border... Just yesterday, an MS-13 gang member was taken into custody for a fatal shooting on a subway platform in New York City. We are removing these gang members by the thousands, but until we secure our border, they are going to keep streaming right back in."[28][29]The Washington Post fact checker found that MS-13 is active primarily in Los Angeles, Long Island (New York), and the Washington, D.C. metro area. The Washington Post also concluded that 1,332 illegal alien members of MS-13 were deported in fiscal year 2018.[30]
Each member of Congress is allowed to bring one guest and several Democratic members of Congress brought various guests to send a message.[32] Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought a sexual assault survivor,[33]Pramila Jayapal brought a climate change scientist,[34] and Ilhan Omar brought an undocumented immigrant threatened with deportation.[35]
Joseph Reilly – The night before American soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, Reilly and the 101st Airborne Division parachuted behind enemy lines. He and his fellow soldiers helped secure Utah Beach and the first foothold in America's liberation of Western Europe. Reilly also fought in Operation Market Garden, Battle of the Bulge, and the battle of the Ruhr Pocket.[37]
Irving Locker – American veteran Irving Locker landed at Utah Beach on D-Day with the 116th AAA gun battalion. He fought through five major battles of World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge, and later helped liberate a Holocaust concentration camp.[37]
Joshua Kaufman – Kaufman endured the horrors of Auschwitz and survived the Dachau Concentration Camp, where he was saved by American soldiers which included Herman Zeitchik. By the end of the war, Joshua had lost most of his family. He left Europe for Israel in 1949 and joined the Israel Defense Forces, fighting in several wars.[37]
Matthew Charles – In 1996, he was sentenced to 35 years in prison for selling crack cocaine and other related offenses. While in prison, Charles found God, completed more than 30 Bible studies, became a law clerk, taught GED classes, and mentored fellow inmates. On January 3, 2019, Charles was the first prisoner released as a result of the First Step Act.
Polls conducted by CBS gauged approval of speech, viewership, among other things. A poll by CBS found 76% of people approved of the speech.[48] Another poll by CBS based on party identification found that 43% of Republicans, 24% of Democrats, and 30% of Independents watched the address.[48] Another poll based on party identification found that 97% of Republicans, 30% of Democrats, and 82% of Independents approved the message of the speech.[48]
Polls conducted by CNN gauged approval of speech, policy approval, among other things.[49] 59% of viewers approved the President's address.[49] 71% of viewers thought that the President's policies were moving the country in the right direction; 76% on economy, 70% on trade and national security, 68% on immigration, and 65% on taxes.[49]
Fundraising by Trump's 2020 campaignedit
A fundraising effort by Trump's 2020 campaign on the days leading to the address and on the day of the address raised $2.4 million from 76,000 donors. His campaign displayed names of donors on a live streaming broadcast of the event on Donald Trump's Facebook page. This is comparable to fundraising for Trump's 2020 campaign that occurred during the 2018 address that similarly included the display of names of donors on a streaming broadcast online.[50]
^In Pelosi's January 16 letter, she wrote that in September 2018, Secretary of Homeland SecurityKirstjen Nielsen had designated State of the Union Addresses as National Special Security Event (NSSEs) in 2018 to ensure adequate security for the events which requires weeks of preparation. Nielsen responded by saying DHS was "fully prepared" for the Address.
^The terms of ending the shutdown allow three weeks for Congress to negotiate and potentially pass a new funding bill. Failure to pass a bill by that deadline could result in another shutdown.
Citationsedit
^ ab"Longest State of the Union speech? So close ..." NBC News. February 4, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^ abPathé, Simone (January 29, 2019). "Stacey Abrams to give Democratic Response to State of The Union Address". Roll Call. Washington, D.C.: FiscalNote. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
^ abBernal, Rafael (January 29, 2019). "California AG Becerra to give Spanish-language SOTU Response". The Hill. Washington, D.C.: Capital Hill Publishing Corp. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
^"Nearly 47 Million Viewers Watch President Trump's State of the Union Address". www.nielsen.com. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
^Watkins, Eli (January 3, 2019). "Pelosi invites Trump to deliver State of the Union on January 29". CNN. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
^Marcos, Christina (January 3, 2019). "Pelosi invites Trump to give State of the Union on January 29". The Hill. Washington, D.C.: Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
^"Trump says look forward to State of the Union address to speak before world". The Times of India. Mumbai: The Times Group. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
^Earl, Jennifer (January 9, 2019). "When is the 2019 State of the Union address? Everything to know about Trump's second speech to Congress". Fox News. New York City: Fox Corporation. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
^ abFritze, John; Hayes, Christal (February 5, 2019). "Designated survivor for State of the Union address: Rick Perry". USA Today. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^Werner, Erica; Costa, Robert; Wagner, John (January 16, 2019). "Pelosi asks Trump to postpone State of the Union address because of shutdown — or deliver it in writing". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Nash Holdings. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
^Allen, Jonathan; Shabad, Rebecca (January 16, 2019). "Pelosi asks Trump to move State of the Union or submit it in writing". NBC News. New York City: NBC. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
^Mangan, Dan; Breuninger, Kevin (January 16, 2019). "Homeland Security ready to protect Trump's State of the Union". CNBC. United States: NBCUniversal Television Group. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
^"'This is her prerogative': Trump gives in to Pelosi on State of the Union". POLITICO. January 23, 2019.
^March, Mary Tyler (January 23, 2019). "Trump: I will deliver State of the Union 'when the shutdown is over'". The Hill. Washington, D.C.: Capitol Hill Publishing Corp. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
^Silbiger, Sarah (January 25, 2019). "Trump Signs Bill Reopening Government for 3 Weeks in Surprise Retreat From Wall". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved January 29, 2019.
^Vucc, Evan (January 28, 2019). "State of the Union 2019: Nancy Pelosi invites Donald Trump to give address on February 5". WLS-TV. Chicago: Disney–ABC Television Group. CNN. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
^"Trump, Pelosi agree on Feb. 5 for State of the Union address". WJW. Cleveland: Tribune Broadcasting. Associated Press. January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
^Mitovich, Matt Webb (January 29, 2019). "State of the Union Rescheduled, Stacey Abrams to Give Democratic Response — Which Shows Are Preempted?". TVLine. United States: TVLine Media, LLC (Penske Media Corporation). Retrieved January 29, 2019.
^Abrams, Abigail (February 5, 2019). "Donald Trump Did Not Wait for Nancy Pelosi to Introduce Him During the State of the Union". Time. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
^"Second Trump-Kim summit to be held in Vietnam on February 27–28". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^"MS-13 gang member arrested in Queens subway shooting, 2 others sought". WABC-TV. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^Lind, Dara (February 5, 2019). "Trump has a long history of fearmongering about immigrant murder". Vox. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^Kessler, Glenn; Rizzo, Salvador; Kelly, Kelly (February 6, 2019). "Fact-checking President Trump's 2019 State of the Union address". Washington Post. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^"Women send political message by wearing white to Trump's State of the Union". ABC News.
^ abcStolberg, Sheryl Gay (February 4, 2019). "How Democrats Are Using Guests to Send Messages at the State of the Union". New York Times.
^"Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's State of the Union guest is activist who confronted Jeff Flake in elevator". CBS News. February 5, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^"The glaring hole in Trump's address: Climate change". Washington Post. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (February 4, 2019). "How Democrats Are Using Guests to Send Messages at the State of the Union". The New York Times. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^"Democrats boycotting State of the Union 2019". Fox News.
^"What we know about the officers injured in synagogue shooting". WPXI. November 7, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
^Stanley-Becker, Issac (October 27, 2018). "In Pittsburgh, a Holocaust survivor was four minutes late to synagogue, escaping death a second time". Washington Post. Retrieved February 7, 2019.
^Miller, Ryan W. (February 5, 2019). "Anti-Semitism almost killed him – twice. At the State of the Union, Congress sang him 'Happy Birthday'". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^Baker, Peter (June 6, 2018). "Alice Marie Johnson Is Granted Clemency by Trump After Push by Kim Kardashian West". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^"Libertarian Party's 2019 State of the Union Address". January 23, 2019.
^Welch, Matt (February 5, 2019). "The Libertarian Party State of the Union: 'Americans deserve better' than 'Republicans and Democrats careen[ing] toward socialism and fascism'".
^Rodrigo, Chris Mills (February 4, 2019). "Bernie Sanders to deliver his own State of the Union response". TheHill. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^Herreria, Carla (February 6, 2019). "Bernie Sanders Uses Rebuttal To Fact-Check Trump's State Of The Union Speech". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^Mathews, Liam (February 4, 2018). "How to Watch the State of the Union". TV Guide. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
^Katz, A.J. (February 6, 2019). "For the Second Consecutive Year, Fox News Is Most-Watched for Pres. Trump's State of the Union". TVNewser. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^ abc"Most viewers approved of Trump's second State of the Union address". www.cbsnews.com. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^ abc"Speech audience was most partisan since 2001". CNN. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
^Bedard, Paul (February 5, 2019). "Trump raises $2.4 million from 76,000 in SOTU pitch, a new record". Washington Examiner. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
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