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NYU Professor, NY Times Columnist to Media: Don't You Dare Call Trump's Speech 'Presidential'

President Donald Trump gave remarks on tax reform, Aug. 30, 2017 / Getty Images
Getty Images
January 30, 2018

A New York University journalism professor, a New York Times columnist, and others preemptively attacked any pundits who may praise President Donald Trump's State of the Union address as presidential.

NYU professor Jay Rosen mocked the tendency to call Trump's speeches "presidential," and called out the Washington Post for a story indicating the speech could help reset his presidency.

Tagging the comments in his morning newsletter, CNN's Brian Stelter wondered if Rosen had a point.

"Will pundits resist the temptation to suggest President Trump is rebranding himself if he sticks to the TelePrompTer on Tuesday night?" asked Stelter. "I will confess that I was a part of this problem last year."

That sentiment was also reflected in an op-ed from the Times' Michelle Goldberg. In the piece titled "Please Don’t Call Him Presidential," Goldberg argued nothing Trump does during the address will make him presidential.

She joked there was a way for Trump to give a good address: "All he has to do is apologize to his fellow Americans for the shame he’s brought upon this country, and resign effective immediately."

"Since that’s not going to happen, I’m begging my fellow pundits not to get too excited should Trump manage to read from a teleprompter without foaming at the mouth or saying anything overtly racist," she continued.

"No matter how well Trump delivers the lines in his State of the Union — announced theme: "Building a safe, strong and proud America" — he will not become presidential."

Others on Twitter also shamed any pundits who would dare declare the State of the Union to be presidential.

Trump has not yet given the State of the Union address.