Trump sounded far more like a typical politician in his State of the Union than he has in the past but, in doing so, made himself forgettable

The star of Celebrity Apprentice and performer in such films as Home Alone 2 and Zoolander played his greatest role on Tuesday. Donald Trump acted like a president. At the very least, a modern day one.

For over an hour, Trump read off a script and recited mostly rote, unmemorable lines. This was not a sign of a pivot or a transformation. It is simply the role of a president any time at any State of the Union.

Q&A What is the State of the Union? Show Hide The State of the Union is the president’s yearly address to Congress and the nation. This is when the president gives his or her view (so far only his) on how the country is doing – and usually how well he is doing – while also outlining the legislation he will focus on in the coming year. The practice was established in article two, section three, clause one of the constitution – the clause states that: “[The president] shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The first address was given by George Washington in 1790, in the then provisional capital of New York City. Washington and John Adams, his successor, both gave the speech in person, but the third president, Thomas Jefferson, decided to give a written message instead. Subsequent presidents followed suit until Woodrow Wilson personally addressed Congress in 1913. Since then almost all addresses have been given in person, some serving as key historical signposts. • In 1862, Abraham Lincoln used his State of the Union message to call for the abolition of slavery – something he said was integral to the survival of the country. • In his 1972 State of the Union speech Richard Nixon called for an end to the Watergate investigation. Seven months later he had resigned over the scandal. • George Bush introduced the fateful term “axis of evil” in his 2002 address to Congress, four months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Bush used the term to tie together Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Adam Gabbatt

State of the Union addresses are rarely memorable or noteworthy. In recent history, only a few lines from entire administrations stand out, in front of Congress or not: perhaps a vague memory here of George W Bush’s “axis of evil” or a recollection of Bill Clinton’s declaration that “the era of big government is over”.

Instead, these hour-long laundry lists, crafted by assembly lines of speechwriters, are the ultimate content for the modern news cycle. They start with countdown clocks and end in a frenzy of analysis and spin on Twitter and cable TV.Almost no one can remember much of anything about it 24 hours later.

On Tuesday night, Trump repeated familiar pledges about building a wall on the southern border and funding infrastructure. He fought familiar cultural battles over the national anthem and illegal immigration. He said he would “make America great again”.

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And Republicans cheered thunderously for nearly every line, while Democrats largely sat silent and stone-faced.

Trump diluted his rhetoric of “American carnage” – the dark standout phrase from his inaugural speech – with a heavy dose of generic political treacle. He sounded far more like a typical politician than he has in the past but, in doing so, made himself as forgettable as a typical politician.

Despite the partisan tensions of the moment, with a historically unpopular president and deep acrimony between lawmakers, there were no interruptions, in contrast to Barack Obama’s joint address to Congress in 2009, when South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson infamously shouted “you lie” at the president.

Instead, Democrats snickered when Trump talked about “restoring trust in government” and were quieted by party leaders when some hissed at Trump’s comments on immigration. But the relative banality of Trump’s remarks limited any drama on the floor of Congress.

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If anything lasts from Trump’s remarks tonight, it will probably be when he called out to Ji Seong-ho, a North Korean refugee who held up his crutches to thunderous applause. Ji was one of nearly 20 people whom Trump mentioned, but the story of his escape from North Korea, his loss of a limb and his gesture with the crutches he used to flee made his story especially moving. The moment was not emblematic of Trump’s prose or his policy proposals, however. Instead, it simply allowed Trump to use Ji’s crutches as a prop.

Save for that fleeting exchange, the speech was mostly forgettable, with all sides left in their partisan corners. As Trump finished, Democrats rushed towards the exits while Republicans stood and chanted “USA, USA” in unison. The show was over. Trump’s part had been played, and his first State of the Union delivered into history. At least until his next tweet.