Trump taps Pence for Wednesday post-speech media blitz

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump woke up Wednesday to upbeat reviews for his first speech to Congress, leaving it to Vice President Mike Pence to make the media rounds.

Speaking of media . . . did you notice that Trump refrained from bashing journalists . .. or fake news . . . during his almost hourlong address in the House chamber . . . where he asked lawmakers to put aside “trivial” differences.

Pence is packing almost a dozen interviews in the day after radio and television media blitz . . . MSNBC’s Morning Joe; ABC’s Good Morning America; NBC’s Today Show; CBS This Morning; Fox and Friends; Laura Ingraham; Rush Limbaugh; Michael Savage; Sean Hannity; The O’Reilly Factor; MSNBC’s For the Record with Greta Van Susteren. Not on this list . . . CNN

SOUNDBITES

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer D-N.Y. on CNN said what matters is Trump’s speech is “detached” from “his reality . . . speeches have a shelf life, they go away . . . there is a low bar here among the media; ‘oh, well, he wasn’t nasty.’”

Pence on CBS about the tribute to Carryn Owens, the emotional highpoint of Trump’s speech. She is the widow of Peoria native Navy Seal Ryan, who died in the Yemen raid…

“And the tribute last night– was the likes of which I’ve never seen. I– I was in the Congress for 12 years. I really don’t remember as sustained and and proper tribute and applause as Mrs. Owens received…

“…I have to tell ‘ya, I– I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house– to see her looking up– expressing words of love– for her husband.”

NEW: “And– afterwards, the president and I spent a little bit more time– with her and– and reminded her that the Congress represents the entire country, and that– the tribute that her husband and her family received was really how all the American people feel about him and feel about all those who serve.”

TRUMP ON WEDNESDAY

Trump takes an intelligence briefing; hosts a House and Senate leadership lunch and a legislative affairs strategy session.

(On the to do list…Trump had no pay for in his speech for the $1 trillion dollars infrastructure package he will be asking Congress to approve) and then dinner with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

IMMIGRATION HEAD SCRATCHING

Trump told network anchors — at a lunch that was off the record but stuff leaked out — that he was open to a compromise that would allow illegal immigrants to remain in the U.S. — but did not mention it in his speech. If Trump takes that path, it would be a big shift on a signature issue.

FACT CHECKING TRUMP’S SPEECH: 13 INACCURACIES

Glenn Kessler and Michelle Ye Hee Lee in the Washington Post found “President Trump’s maiden address to Congress was notable because it was filled with numerous inaccuracies. In fact, many of the president’s false claims are old favorites that he trots out on a regular, almost daily basis,” followed by their “roundup of 13 of the more notable claims.”

TOP MOMENTS: FACEBOOK ANALYSIS

Top Issues

1. Immigration

2. Russia

3. Racial/Ethnic Discrimination

4. The Economy

5. The Military

Top Moments

1. Trump on Obamacare: “The way to make health insurance available to everyone is to lower the cost of health insurance, and that is what we will do.”

2. Tribute to and standing ovation for Navy Seal Ryan Owens and his widow in the audience.

3. Trump: “My administration has been working on improved vetting procedures, and we will shortly take new steps to keep our Nation safe.”

Most Engaged States

1. Vermont

2. Maine

3. Oregon

4. Virginia

5. Maryland