A broken clock is right twice a day.
President Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address since his return to office in the 2024 election drew a positive reaction from television viewers, according to CNN polling released immediately after the speech.
An instant poll found 64 percent of viewers said Trump is moving the country in the right direction.
Before the address, 54 percent of viewers said they approved of the direction he was taking the country, indicating a post-speech bump following the president’s remarks.
Watch the clip below:
CNN: 64% of speech watchers say President Trump's polices will move the country in the right direction 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eaYoPeYBnG
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2026
The reaction contrasted with criticism from some commentators.
During post-speech coverage, CNN anchor Abby Phillip characterized portions of the address — including Trump awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom, two Medals of Honor, two Purple Hearts and the Legion of Merit — as “gameshow type moments” and suggested the president used them because other messages were a “hard pill for Americans to swallow.”
The polling suggested otherwise.
Watch the clip below:
MUST WATCH: CNN’s Abby Phillip calls President Trump awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom, two Medals of Honor, two Purple Hearts, and the Legion of Merit “gameshow type moments” that “he had to do” because his other messages are a “hard pill for Americans to swallow.” pic.twitter.com/VbBYTNlZmb
— Conservative War Machine (@WarMachineRR) February 25, 2026
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