WSJ on Trump’s SOTU

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Team offer their afterthoughts on the Trump’s first State of the Union Address.

Key Quotes:

“Mr. Trump devoted just 78 words of his 5,200-word address to the subject he hit hard during the 2016 campaign

Why such short shrift to trade?

A few possible reasons:

The overall tone Mr. Trump chose for his address was an upbeat one ... A nod to the "American carnage" he invoked during his inaugural speech a year ago would seem discordant.

Mr. Trump's economic team has also been divided over just how hard a line to take

Mr. Trump has also apparently chosen to make his infrastructure package a higher priority this year

And also, does the de-emphasis on trade in the Trump speech signal a softening of trade policy?

Perhaps. But not necessarily. ... his aides are still working on a big trade case against China ...   Mr. Trump seemed to be alluding to that pending action when he said "we will protect American workers and American intellectual property.”