Susan Page

But we know that midterm elections tend to be referendum on the president.

So that's one reason that congressional Republicans, I think, were pleased by the fact that the focus of the speech was the economy.

That's the big issue.

What do Americans care about?

It's the economy, stupid.

I think this was probably helpful.

But the real issue, how do Americans feel?

Will Americans be persuaded that the economy is roaring, as the president said, or will they continue to have these deep concerns about the cost of healthcare and food and rent?

That'll be the question in November.

I thought the Democrats were in kind of a tough spot there because Hakeem Jeffries, the New York Democrat who leads House Democrats, had basically tried to enforce a silent defiance approach where they would go to the speech, but they would sit there silently.

And that's awkward for two hours to sit there silently.

At one point, Trump basically dared them

to stand up when he said the fundamental job of government is to protect American citizens, not illegal immigrants.

Well, the Democrats stayed seated for that, and Trump looked at them with, I thought, a combination of contempt and satisfaction, as though he had forced them into a response that we may see in TV ads, political ads this year.

There was also a few incidents of some shouted objections.

Ilhan Omar, the congresswoman from Minnesota, at one point accused Trump of being a murderer.

There was a little byplay with Trump on that.

We also heard from Al Green.

The Texas Democrat who last year was escorted out of Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress because he kept tackling him, this time he brought a cardboard sign and held it up saying, Black people are not apes.

That's a reference to a racist video that Trump had reposted.