It will go down in history as the “Bah! Humbug!” address.
But this was not an address by a self-confident man dishing out Christmas presents to the nation. It smacked of desperation from one who can feel the December windchill of opinion polls – a Reuters/ Ipsos poll on Tuesday showed just 33% of US adults approve of how Trump has handled the economy – dissent in his own Republican ranks and the Jeffrey Epstein files looming on Friday.
The speech also revealed Trump’s need for a reliable foil. Over the years Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have been useful nemeses for a man and movement defined less by what they are for than what they are against.
Last I understood as of like a week ago, they are no longer sending a straight check for $2k but instead the money will be given to you in the form of a tax refund. Which sounds to me like just a perfect way to do nothing and then say you sent it to everyone. Then when no one sees any difference just tell them they owed more taxes than they thought or filed wrong or whatever. But call me a negative Nancy I guess 🤷