PITTSBURGH — By the end of President Donald Trump‘s joint address to Congress on Tuesday night, Democrats decided not to applaud a child battling brain cancer, the mother of a woman who was murdered by a 26-year-old Venezuelan man who entered the United States illegally, the passage of a sports bill that would have kept biological men from competing with girls, a western Pennsylvania man released from prison in Russia to his 95-year-old mother, and a newly admitted student to a U.S. military academy.

They sat stone-faced on their hands, some playing with their iPhones, during all of these moments — moments that had many bathed in tears.

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Brad Todd, Republican strategist and founder of OnMessage, posted on X, “This will forever be known as the moment when we realized the Democratic Party was fundamentally broken. They took cancer’s side.”

One longtime Democrat who worked in the Senate for years, who is now, as he says, “thankfully in the private sector,” said, “They did what most people in their party have long said couldn’t happen. They made Trump look presidential.”

It was also hard for him to wrap his brain around Democrats not applauding border crossings falling to 8,000 from 200,000.

Polling after the speech reflected what was heard anecdotally Tuesday night from a wide variety of voters. It showed people were happy with his speech, agreed with the direction he wanted to take the country, and felt they were part of something bigger than themselves

A CBS News/YouGov survey reflected that a national sample of viewers immediately following the president’s address to Congress described Trump as “presidential, “inspiring,” and more “unifying” than “divisive.” A big majority also called the speech “entertaining.”

Most viewers who tuned in to the speech said it made them feel “hopeful” and “proud.”

The survey showed that viewers liked the plans they heard about immigration, wasteful government spending, and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

A majority also thought the president described the crime problem in the U.S. accurately, and they approved the removal of Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who wielded a cane and insults, from the chamber for interrupting Trump’s speech.

TRUMP OBLITERATES DEMOCRATS BUT OVERPROMISES ON ECONOMY

The speech was the longest in modern U.S. history, and it appears that despite all the drama and antics by the Democrats, who don’t understand how to win voters back, Americans were pleased with its content. They also found Trump’s style “entertaining” while being less than pleased with the spectacle put on by the Democrats.

Trump’s speech was effective and accomplished its goal by speaking directly to Americans. He assured them that he was aware of why they elected him and outlined his plan to deliver for them. Add in the stories of struggle, recovery, and hope from ordinary Americans, and the speech was a home run.