Most of the applause lines throughout Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech hewed to the familiar party lines of border crises, perceived foreign threats, abortion and the benefits of big tax cuts.

But one completely unexpected moment came in a spirited exchange with the Democratic women of the House who, all dressed in suffragette white, were already the most striking group in the chamber and, to many observers, seemed primed to upstage the president.

Representative Lois Frankel, chair of the House Democratic women’s working group, told CNN before the speech: “Wearing suffragette white is a respectful message of solidarity with women across the country, and a declaration that we will not go back on our hard-earned rights.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Democrats pose for a photo before the address. Photograph: UPI/Barcroft Images

The president’s daughter Tiffany and Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host and girlfriend of Donald Jr, also wore white – although it’s unclear if that was meant in solidarity with the Democrats or was just a bold fashion choice.

Pivoting from yet another vividly imaginative appeal for a border wall, Trump noted the economic strides women had made.

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“No one has benefited more from our thriving economy than women, who have filled 58% of the newly created jobs last year,” he said to applause, including from many of the members dressed in white, who jumped to their feet cheering. While there are indeed more women in the labor force, there are also more men in the workforce than ever, so the statistic was misleading.

But one profession where it can be safely argued that Trump has increased the number of women is in the House – though the achievement belongs to the Democrats seeking to unseat him, not the male-heavy ranks of the Republicans.

Seemingly picking up on this, Trump offered a moment of levity.

“You weren’t supposed to do that,” he said.

“All Americans can be proud that we have more women in the workforce than ever before,” he went on, adding: “Don’t sit yet. You’re going to like this.”

“Exactly one century after Congress passed the constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote, we also have more women serving in Congress than at any time before,” he said.

The number of Republican women in the House, on the other hand, has fallen from 23 to 13.

The applause for the remarks about women in Congress segued into one of the first of numerous USA! chants that would follow throughout the night, this time with numerous Democrats joining in, something of a disorienting spectacle.

Trump’s turn toward abortion laws later on was not met with quite as much enthusiasm from the opposition.

“Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments from birth,” he said. He turned to recent developments in Virginia. “We had the case of the governor of Virginia, where he stated he would execute a baby after birth. To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children, who can feel pain in the mother’s womb.”

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In both cases Trump lied about the laws. In New York the language reads that an abortion could take place when “the patient is within twenty-four weeks from the commencement of pregnancy, or there is an absence of fetal viability, or the abortion is necessary to protect the patient’s life or health”.

The Virginia law, since put on hold, would have changed from three to one the number of doctors required to affirm “the continuation of the pregnancy is likely to result in the death of the woman” or “impair the mental or physical health of the woman”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Nancy Pelosi reacted with chagrin to many of Trump’s statements. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters

The most lasting image of the night may have come from the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who sat behind Trump reacting with chagrin to many of his pronouncements. Before the speech began, the president greeted her. She reached her hand down to him as Trump smiled, perhaps knowing that things during this Congress might end up going a little differently now she’s in power.