Did People Like Trump's Speech? Polls, Pundits, GOP Approved, Others Strongly Rebuked

In his first address to Congress Tuesday night, President Donald Trump had a newfound steady tone, even if the message was largely the same one that's helped him earn historically low approval ratings. The speech earned the president good reviews from his fellow Republicans, a number of political pundits and a good portion of the American people. Others, however, remained unimpressed.

Pundits were quick to jump on board. Trump critic Van Jones, a regular CNN commentator, was effusive in his praise of the president's remarks to the widow of fallen Navy Seal William "Ryan" Owens, who died during a raid in Yemen.

"He did something extraordinary," Jones said on air. "And for people who have been hoping that he would become unifying, hoping that he might find some way to become presidential, they should be happy with that moment... Now, there was a lot that he said in that speech that was counterfactual, that was not right, that I oppose and will oppose. But he did something tonight that you cannot take away from him. He became president of the United States."

The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza‏ named him one the "winners" of the night and offered "a proof point that he can be, dare I say it, presidential when the moment demands it."

Many of Trump's GOP colleagues, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, lavished the president with praise.

Reaction polls from both CNN and CBS found at least 70 percent of respondents generally approved of the speech. Significantly fewer respondents, however, were "very positive" about Trump's speech than the first remarks given by former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, Quartz pointed out.

A number of folks were quick to point out that Trump, who has regularly stirred controversy and made unpopular remarks during his brief presidency, was benefiting from lowered expectations. And the rough policy outlined in the speech remained unchanged, which are the same ideas that have helped keep Trump's early approval ratings hovering around 40 percent.

Even the Trump camp was surprised by the positive response, reported Robert Costa of the Washington Post. White House sources were "frankly surprised at how pundits are warming to the speech" even though "Trump has not changed," Costa tweeted Wednesday.