When it comes to the annual State of the Union address, much is often said, but little is actually addressed.
The event exists as an opportunity for politicians to repeat their favorite platitudes and for the D.C. political class to rub shoulders. What really matters is not the State of the Union address, but what proceeds it. We are now one year into Donald Trump‘s presidency and conservatives have to be happy, maybe even pleasantly surprised at what President Trump and this Republican Congress have been able to accomplish in one year.
Conservatives are used to the Republican party letting us down, but this year has been different.
We’ve seen one of the largest tax cuts in American history, which corresponded with the first remaking of the tax code since Ronald Reagan‘s presidency. We have already seen the results of this tax cut come to fruition, including in our home state of Alabama where Toyota and Mazda announced a new $1.6 billion plant in Huntsville that will create 4,000 new jobs for Alabamians.
The United States also saw its first year of 3% GDP growth since George W. Bush‘s first term. In addition, we have also confirmed great constitutionalist judges, including Justice Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Through remaking the courts, we have a chance to end judicial tyranny in this country and restore the rule of law. The promise of appointing judges after years of activist court rulings was a big reason why some skeptical conservatives held their nose to vote for Donald Trump. He has delivered in this area more than any of us could have expected.
Lastly, many concerns about Trump’s presidency involved his foreign policy. Many folks were concerned that somebody with no experience would have significant trouble in the area where the President has the most power and the most responsibility. Yet Trump has assuaged those concerns in his first year in office.
He has surrounded himself with some of the most brilliant minds in the country including the likes of Jim Mattis, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pompeo. In Trump’s first year, ISIS is all but done, Jerusalem has finally been recognized as the Capital of Israel, Syria has ceased use of their chemical weapons program, and Iran and Russia have been put on notice.
Our foreign policy has made some of the greatest strides in a generation, thanks to this administration. With the economy roaring, the Middle East stabilizing, and the Supreme Court headed in a constitutionalist direction, it’s fair to say that the state of our union is strong.
Welcome to Donald Trump’s America, where ISIS is dead and the economy is alive.
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William Davis is a sophomore at the University of Alabama. There he is involved in various conservative groups and organizations.
