Donald Trump surprises many by praising President Biden’s State of the Union performance

The Republican response to President Biden’s State of the Union was dark. Delivered by the newly elected governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee-Sanders, the short speech deviated between attacks on the “radical left” and their “woke fantasies” and a call to remember the greatness experienced under the Trump presidency.

Donald Trump, the presumptive leader of the Republican party, had a very different reaction to the address. Trump took to Truth social to give some praise to President Biden and even extended some love to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Trump is not known for humanizing his opponents, and his comments have surprised many.

Trump’s first message spoke to how regardless of his policy differences with the president, the deliverance of the speech “put into words what he felt” and consequently ended the night in a “stronger” position.

A much shorter note posted a little later in the speech reads, “He’s doing better now, far fewer stumbles.”

And, after all that, the president was not the only Biden to receive a shoutout. “His wide, Jill, is looking lovely tonight in a beautiful purple dress, clapping and applauding with great enthusiasm,” noted the former president.

Praise for Biden comes as Trump increases attacks on Ron DeSantis

These comments strike many as strange for two main reasons.

First, there is a chance that 2024 will be a 2020 rematch, and empowering one’s opponent is not necessarily a common play for Donald Trump.

Second, these attacks came after Donald Trump doubled down and scaled up his attacks on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a member of his own party. Last night, the former president made two posts alluding to the idea that DeSantis is a pedophile.