Carryn Owens with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner on Tuesday. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque CNN political commentator Van Jones was left in awe Tuesday night by one moment during President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress: when Trump honored the widow of William "Ryan" Owens, the Navy SEAL who was killed during last month's raid in Yemen.

"He became president of the United States in that moment, period," Jones said on CNN. "That was one of the most extraordinary moments you have ever seen in American politics. Period."

During his address, Trump acknowledged Carryn Owens, who was sitting next to Trump's daughter Ivanka. Trump said he had spoken with Defense Secretary James Mattis, who he said told him Owens was "part of a highly successful raid" that had yielded significant intelligence, contrary to reports that emerged over the previous 24 hours.

"Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity," Trump said, triggering a second, lengthy standing ovation for Carryn Owens, who became overcome with emotion.

"He did something extraordinary," Jones said. "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. For people who have been hoping that maybe he would remain a divisive cartoon, which he often finds a way to do, they should begin to become a little bit worried tonight.

"Because that thing you just saw him do, if he finds a way to do that over and over again, he's going to be there for eight years," Jones continued.

The Yemen raid, one of the first missions Trump signed off on as commander in chief, has proved controversial. Owens' father, Bill, criticized Trump in an interview last weekend, saying he should not "hide" behind Ryan's death and needed to provide answers about what went wrong in the raid, which also resulted in the deaths of nearly 30 civilians including an 8-year-old girl.

Watch the moment below: