Almost half of Democrats admit Trump's State of the Union was better than they'd expected


The majority of people who watched President Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday thought he did a "good" or "excellent job," a new Politico/Morning Consult poll has found. While just 20 percent of viewers called the speech "poor," Politico importantly notes that "the sample of speech-watchers was significantly more Republican than the overall electorate," with only 29 percent of respondents being Democrats and 28 percent independents.
Still, the poll is revealing: "Overall, 72 percent of voters said [the State of the Union] was somewhat or much better than they expected — and that includes 46 percent of Democrats," said Morning Consult's chief research officer, Kyle Dropp.
When asked specifically about Trump's speech, 63 percent of respondents called it "optimistic" and "presidential," while just 28 percent said it was "depressing" and 27 percent "boring." Over 60 percent of people who watched the State of the Union also watched Rep. Joe Kennedy III's (D-Mass.) response, although it did not go over as well. While 48 percent said his speech was "excellent" or "good," an additional 46 percent said it was "only fair" or "poor."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Politico/Morning Consult surveyed 2,209 people on Wednesday. The results have a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent. See the full results here.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
5 suspiciously good cartoons about the Epstein files
Cartoons Artists take on the relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
-
A glorious Greek island without the 'swank'
The Week Recommends Lesbos doesn't welcome 'hoards' of tourists, but is 'magnificent' and worth exploring
-
Norman Tebbit: fearsome politician who served as Thatcher's enforcer
In the Spotlight Former Conservative Party chair has died aged 94
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department