from RT:

Teased as “low key,” US President Donald Trump’s annual address to Congress was anything but, with several unprecedented symbolic gestures and a powerful assertion of American triumphalism that put his critics on the back foot.

Trump did not mention impeachment once in the 90-minute speech on Tuesday evening. Instead, he turned his persuasion skills up to eleven, painting a picture of America with a booming economy and infinite opportunities brought about by his administration, and contrasting that with Democrat proposals such as socialized healthcare and sanctuaries for illegal immigrants.

Amid the standard Trump talking points of tax reform, deregulation, border wall and support for police and immigration enforcement, however, were strategically seeded guests whose stories served to show, not tell, what the president stood for. This is where the usually stodgy SOTU turned into something new and different.

Legendary conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who had announced the day before he was suffering from late-stage lung cancer, was given a Presidential Medal of Freedom right there and then, accepting it from the hands of First Lady Melania Trump.

“Rush, in recognition of all that you have done for our Nation, the millions of people a day that you speak to and inspire…I am proud to announce tonight that you will be receiving…the Presidential Medal of Freedom.” –@realDonaldTrump

Congratulations Rush! #SOTU #SOTU2020 pic.twitter.com/wIYdghSSHT

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) February 5, 2020

Later on, Trump gave Janiyah Davis a scholarship for a school choice program – a beloved Republican policy that had been blocked by Pennsylvania’s Democrat governor, stranding the African-American girl from Philadelphia on a waiting list.

Two-year-old Ellie Schneider from Kansas City, Missouri, who was born prematurely at barely 22 weeks old, was the living argument for Trump’s efforts to outlaw late-term abortions.

As a reminder that he presided over the destruction of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), Trump brought in the parents of an aid worker held captive and killed by the terrorists. Introducing Carl and Marshal Mueller, Trump told them that the unit sent to kill IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was named “Task Force 8-14,” to honor the birthday of their daughter Kayla.

Pres also honors Carl & Marsha Mueller, who daughter Kayla was held captive and then killed by ISIS captors. Pres says the Special Forces unit that attacked and killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi named their mission “Task Force 8-14,” to honor Kayla’s August 14th birthday. pic.twitter.com/Zj63uY6eS4

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 5, 2020

Rather than just talking about ending America’s longest war, Trump literally brought home a soldier who had been on his fourth deployment in Afghanistan, reuniting him with his shocked wife and children right in the gallery.

Read More @ RT.com