Dans son discours sur l’état de l’Union (Le State of The Union ou SOTU est prévu dans la Constitution américains – Art II, sect 3[1]) est intervenu sur de nombreux sujets avec un éclairage particulier sur l’immigration (ce sujet et la question du mur à pris une importance surdimensionnée). L’institut Gallup s’est plié à l’exercice intéressant de comparer les affirmations (parfois… souvent erronées ou invérifiables) à l’opinion des Américains mesurée dans de récents sondages.
1. Bipartisanship
“Victory is not winning for our party. Victory is winning for our country.”
Bringing About More Compromise in Congress
2. Healthcare costs and pre-existing conditions
“The next major priority for me, and for all of us, should be to lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs — and to protect patients with pre-existing conditions.”
Six in 10 Americans Worry About Higher Healthcare Premiums
One in Four U.S. Adults Say They Have a Pre-Existing Condition
3. Economy
“The U.S. economy is growing almost twice as fast today as when I took office, and we are considered far and away the hottest economy anywhere in the world.”
Americans Becoming More Pessimistic About the Economy
4. Abortion
“I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb.”
Trimesters Still Key to U.S. Abortion Views
5. Women
“No one has benefited more from our thriving economy than women, who have filled 58% of the newly created jobs last year.”
Record-Low 46% of Women Pleased With Society’s Treatment
6. Immigration policy
“We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens. This includes our obligation to the millions of immigrants living here today, who followed the rules and respected our laws.”
Top Issues for Voters: Healthcare, Economy, Immigration
7. Border wall
“In the past, most of the people in this room voted for a wall. But the proper wall was never built. I will get it built.”
Solid Majority Still Opposes New Construction on Border Wall
8. Trade
“To build on our incredible economic success, one priority is paramount — reversing decades of calamitous trade policies.”
In U.S., Positive Attitudes Toward Foreign Trade Stay High
9. North Korea
“If I had not been elected president of the United States, we would right now, in my opinion, be in a major war with North Korea. Much work remains to be done, but my relationship with Kim Jong Un is a good one.”
Americans’ Opinions of U.S.-North Korea Relations Less Negative
10. Spending on U.S. defense
“Over the last two years, we have begun to fully rebuild the United States military — with $700 billion last year and $716 billion this year.”
Americans Not Convinced U.S. Needs to Spend More on Defense
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[1] « The President shall from time to time give the Congres Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration Such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ». Jusqu’en 1913, les présidents s’acquittaient de leur devoir de manière écrite en envoyant leur pensum au Congrès. C’est Woodrow Wilson qui a lancé la forme orale en venant faire son discours devant le Congrès réuni. Avec l’apparition de la radio, puis de la télévision, le discours a été diffusé dans le pays tout entier. Mais c’est le Speaker de la Chambre des représentants qui invite. Sans invitation, le président ne peut théoriquement pas faire son discours. Malgré son côté « disruptif et inconventionnel » comme aiment à le dire ses supporters, Donald Trump n’a pas enfreint la règle. Nancy Pelosi avait écrit au président qu’il pourrait venir quand il mettrait fin au Shutdown.