In the 2010 film “The King’s Speech,” the new British monarch is under pressure to overcome a stutter and deliver a stirring speech against the foes of democracy.
President Joe Biden reprised the role that Colin Firth won an Oscar for, delivering a stirring 2024 State of the Union Address that put his opponent on the defensive.
Was it enough?
Biden’s performance is sure to give his supporters a major shot of confidence. His policy-oriented speech contrasted favorably with the personal-grievance-laden diatribes from
Donald Trump and his supporters, and drove expectations for Biden’s SOTU down so low that it made the President’s performance the story, a major campaign blunder. But there were other mistakes, including the Republican choice of the GOP response, and the Democrats’ decision to keep Biden largely under wraps, which may have driven down his numbers against Trump.
Since I have been following politics, smart politicians have made lowering expectations an art form. In this game, the party tamps down the outlook so that even a modest performance looks even better on screen. Who knew that ex-President Donald Trump would give Biden a helping hand in this arena? Trump and MAGA allies made us think that Biden would stumble down to the stage, drooling all the way, and be completely incapable of speaking in complete sentences. All it did was draw in an unusually high number of viewers to Biden’s speech, only to see a pretty good performance look even better with the amazingly low expectations.
It might make the average voter wonder what else Trump is wrong about.
It wasn’t just that Biden delivered a great speech. He clearly laid out a series of policy proposals and positions, pointing out where Republicans in Congress walked away from a bipartisan deal to please Trump, without mentioning him by name. Contrast this with the long, rambling diatribes the former president delivers at campaign rallies.
A CNN SOTU poll found that 45% approved of Biden’s initiatives before they watched the speech. After the speech, those numbers jumped to 62% for that same sample. As more Americans tune into Trump’s speeches (I attended one in 2016 and one last year), they’ll get a very different reaction unless the former president changes his tune and tactics in what he says.
In my American Government class, the day of the SOTU, I encouraged my students to watch Alabama Senator Katie Britt’s GOP response, noting that it could boost her political career. But I don’t think she’ll get a second chance any time soon with that performance. I expect comedy shows to roast her.
Has the Biden campaign become Its own worst enemy? The Trump Campaign and GOP Response weren’t the only losers on March 7. Biden’s strong performance critiques the decision by his campaign to give the President a low profile, few public appearances of this caliber, or even an occasional prime-time press conference. It may have weakened Biden before March 7.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. In the day of the real-life “King’s Speech,” the world faced authoritarians with slick propaganda and a surprising number of domestic adherents. King George VI had to get it right with the radio address to rally supporters of those who still think freedom is a value, not an obstacle. It’s not too different from what our world must grapple with today.
And a strong speech standing up to America’s foes is a good start.
John A. Tures is Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of the Political Science Program at LaGrange College, in LaGrange, Georgia.