State of the Union: Expert expects Trump to stick to the script during address

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Jacob Neiheisel, PhD, assistant professor of political science, comments on Tuesday's State of the Union address.

For further comments/interviews, Neiheisel can be contacted through Doug Sitler in UB media relations at drsitler@buffalo.edu or 716-645-9069. Sitler can provide a cell phone number for Neiheisel.

Neiheisel says:

"State of the Union addresses normally give the public a window into the president's priorities and policy positions. They also have the effect of giving marching orders to the president's party in Congress. That being said, I would be shocked if we learned anything new tomorrow. I don't expect him to trot out much in the way of new policy goals and, provided he sticks to the script, it will probably be a fairly mainstream speech.

"He'll want to take a victory lap on a couple of things (Gorsuch, the economy, etc.), to be sure, and avoid other topics save perhaps in passing (e.g., Russia). He also might level a few not-so-subtle jabs toward his political adversaries (Democrats, never-Trumpers in the GOP). Other than that I don't expect fireworks.

"I expect the Democratic response to be a bit more inflammatory, but since hardly anybody is going to watch it and it is not being delivered by someone who is clearly identified with the progressive wing of the party, I think it will probably go unnoticed. I have to say, though, that there is always a non-zero probability that Trump will go off script. If that happens it is anybody's guess as to what we will see."

Doug Sitler
Tel: 716-645-9069
drsitler@buffalo.edu