In the wake of a delayed State of the Union, conservative commentators had much to applaud in what was, in their opinion, a marvelous speech by President Trump. But it was the lack of applause—and standing ovations—from Democratic lawmakers that occupied the minds of hosts on right-wing news networks and their guests.
Even Donald Trump Jr., appearing on Fox & Friends, feigned confusion at why the opposition party might not be so enthusiastic about his father’s speech.
As most of us who watch the State of the Union on an annual basis know, the opposition party regularly resists applauding the policies promoted within.
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Disruptions, of course, are rare—the most famous one was directed toward Barack Obama. But that didn’t keep some right-wing pundits from believing a disruption was coming, with one even declaring that it would give Trump the spark needed to declare a national emergency there on the spot.
Absent such interruptions, then, it fell on the analysts to focus on what they felt was ultimately missing: Enough applause for President Trump from his opponents. And boy, did they focus on it!
