ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl called President Trump’s Wednesday night address unusually defensive and indicative of self-doubt. Karl told George Stephanopoulos the prime-time speech was "hyper-partisan," mentioning Joe Biden and Democrats 15 times and offering more attacks than policy detail. He challenged the president’s economic claims—pointing out inflation has stayed near 3% since Trump took office—and cited a Quinnipiac poll showing 57% disapprove of Trump’s economic stewardship.
Jonathan Karl Calls Trump’s Prime-Time Address 'Defensive,' Says It Reveals Self‑Doubt
ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl on Thursday described President Donald Trump’s Wednesday night prime-time address as unusually defensive and a sign of self-doubt, arguing the remarks were more partisan rally than a typical presidential address reserved for crises or major policy announcements.
Karl’s Assessment
Karl joined George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America after the speech, which included a promise of $1,776 in "warrior dividends" for military service members. Trump framed the economy as having been "dead" before he took office and called the United States the "hottest" country in the world.
"Look, George, when the president of the United States asks for primetime network air time to address the nation, it is usually either to make a statement about a national crisis, to announce a major new initiative, or to speak on an issue of war and peace. This was none of that. In fact, I cannot recall a prime time presidential address that was as defensive and hyper-partisan as this one. By my count, President Trump mentioned Joe Biden and the Democrats 15 times over the course of that 20-minute address."
Karl criticized the address as "hyper-partisan," saying it contained more attacks on former President Joe Biden and Democrats than policy substance. He also accused the president of repeating "falsehoods" and "exaggerations" about the economy, noting that inflation has remained relatively stable around 3% since Trump took office.
Polling And Political Context
Pointing to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday, Karl noted that 57% of respondents disapproved of Trump's handling of the economy while 40% approved. He highlighted one bright spot for the administration in the poll: respondents still, on balance, trusted Republicans more than Democrats on economic issues.
Karl summarized that if the address was intended to confront a crisis, it appeared to be a crisis of confidence in the president’s economic stewardship rather than a response to an external emergency or a major national initiative.
Bottom line: Karl framed the prime-time address as politically charged and defensive, aimed more at rallying supporters and attacking opponents than announcing a clear policy shift or addressing an urgent national issue.
