Gameshow Trump makes his pitch to midterm voters

Trump threatened Iran and taunts Democrats in record-length State of the Union address

This was more like watching a game show host than a US leader.

President Donald Trump was in his element at the State of the Union speech, lapping up the theatre of the occasion.

It was difficult to grasp from the performance that Trump may be about to bomb Iran or that half of Americans regard him as a grave threat to democracy.

Brilliantly choreographed, he punctuated the speech by highlighting those he regards as true American patriots.

He brought members of the gold medal-winning US Olympic ice hockey team into the House gallery.

Chants of “USA! USA!” echoed around the chamber.

He also gave the Medal of Honour to the wounded helicopter pilot who led the audacious military raid that captured the Venezuelan dictator, Nicolas Maduro.

The political aim last night was clear.

This was the longest-ever State of the Union speech. / Credit: AP

After a dramatic and wildly unpredictable first year of his second term, Trump is trying to reset his presidency.

The White House knows it must persuade Americans that the country is on the right track.

There is grave political peril ahead for the Trump presidency because there are midterm Congressional elections in November that could witness a major defeat for Republicans.

On tariffs, Trump told Congress he had found another legal framework to keep them in place.

Unamused, Supreme Court Justices watched on, just days after they had rejected his tariff policies as illegal.

On foreign policy, Trump was surprisingly conciliatory – even praising NATO members as “our friends and allies”.

To confront Iran, a huge armada has been assembled, but despite the firepower and much speculation, Trump made no suggestion that an attack on Iran is imminent.

But even as Trump celebrated what he calls a “Golden Age,” Democrats are deriding this as a delusional speech.

Who is right? The real verdict on Trump’s speech – and on his presidency – will be delivered by American voters in November.