Rove Slams Trump: ‘Most Divisive State of the Union in Recent Memory’

During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Donald Trump alienated potential allies by labeling Democrats as “crazy” and “sick people,” according to Republican strategist Karl Rove in a column published Wednesday. Rove's critique highlights a significant shift in the tone of presidential addresses.

“In an unprecedented move, Mr. Trump directly attacked his predecessor multiple times,” Rove observed. “He relentlessly condemned congressional Democrats, attempting to compel them to stand and applaud, and he lashed out when they didn’t comply. It was clear he was looking for a confrontation.”

Rove elaborated, “While many presidents have used this platform to challenge the opposition on critical issues, none have done so with such directness and ferocity as Mr. Trump did on Tuesday. He vilified Democrats as ‘sick people’ and ‘crazy,’ asserting they ‘are destroying our country.’”

Despite breaking records with the longest State of the Union speech ever delivered, Trump spent a considerable portion of his time disparaging his opponents and exaggerating his achievements. Rove noted that Trump initially seemed somewhat gracious.

“The president energized the House chamber by inviting the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team and presenting goalie Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” he wrote. “Even Democrats joined in chanting ‘USA! USA!’”

However, Rove remarked, “This was also the most partisan State of the Union in memory.”

As a prominent critic of Trump, Rove, who served as a senior adviser and deputy chief of staff under former President George W. Bush, recently cautioned that Trump’s controversial remarks could jeopardize Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.

Rove contended that Trump further undermined his party’s chances by insulting Democrats. While acknowledging that this approach “cheered Republicans,” he questioned its effectiveness with crucial swing voters. “Almost everything the president said energized his MAGA base. But they aren’t enough to prevent a significant defeat this fall,” he stated.

Rove pointed out that Trump’s dismal approval ratings reflect widespread pessimism about the economy, suggesting that Tuesday’s speech likely felt disconnected from reality to many listeners—especially given Trump’s claim that the economy was “roaring.”

“The congressional Joint Economic Committee reports that the U.S. lost 108,000 manufacturing jobs last year,” Rove noted. “This comes amid rising public anxiety regarding artificial intelligence's impact on jobs, utility costs, children, and future prospects.”

He continued, “Yet the president asserted that ‘prices are plummeting downwards.’ In reality, they generally aren’t. His tariffs, he claimed, would ‘substantially replace the … income tax,’ and eliminating fraud in federal spending would lead to ‘a balanced budget overnight.’ They won’t.”

Rove, echoing concerns shared by many regarding Republican prospects in the midterms, warned that any chance of success hinges on offering more “substance,” empathy, and solutions to pressing economic issues.

“They better get cracking,” he concluded. “Time’s a-wasting.”