# Donald Trump says he is going to give an address on prime time tv on December 17, 2025. Are you going to watch to see what he says? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [December 16, 2025, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766 "2025-12-16T21:21:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/221 "2025-12-18T17:32:29Z")
> [@solost](#): > > The little man behind the curtain is beginning to show. The thing is tho, unlike the putative Wizard in the literary (ok cinematic too) allusion in question, there _IS_ no man behind the curtain, at all. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/222 "2025-12-18T17:48:48Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/223 "2025-12-18T17:54:14Z")
> [@solost](#): > > But when it comes to the economy, he can’t BS and say everything is fine economically when people can clearly see it’s BS. It’s always been about pocketbook politics. The little man behind the curtain is beginning to show. The people I know who have lost their jobs or can’t find jobs are almost to a person blaming our Democratic Governor and the “Biden hangover” I talked to someone who has two kids with STEM degrees who either were laid off or can’t find a job because research projects are being de-funded right and left. He was ranting about all the jobs going to immigrants. He came here as an H1-B worker in the 1990s! ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/224 "2025-12-18T17:58:21Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I talked to someone who has two kids with STEM degrees who either were laid off or can’t find a job because research projects are being de-funded right and left. He was ranting about all the jobs going to immigrants. He came here as an H1-B worker in the 1990s! Breathtaking. So much stupidity, error, and hypocrisy in one little rant (your acquaintance’s). ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/225 "2025-12-18T18:01:15Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > The little man behind the curtain is beginning to show. > > The thing is tho, unlike the putative Wizard in the literary (ok cinematic too) allusion in question, there _IS_ no man behind the curtain, at all. Well, behind the ‘Great and Powerful’ facade, there’s an elderly con man who gives unreasonable demands to his allies and makes empty promises which he has no intention of fulfilling. Seems like a pretty apt metaphor to me 😏 > [@madmonk28](#): > > From The Atlantic: Oh, that’s good, Thanks for the gift link. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/226 "2025-12-18T18:06:41Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > The people I know who have lost their jobs or can’t find jobs are almost to a person blaming our Democratic Governor and the “Biden hangover” Yeah, the worse their lives get, the more they double down. I don’t see them ever waking up. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/227 "2025-12-18T18:22:41Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > > [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > > > The people I know who have lost their jobs or can’t find jobs are almost to a person blaming our Democratic Governor and the “Biden hangover” > > Yeah, the worse their lives get, the more they double down. I don’t see them ever waking up. Sure, there are still hardcore trump supporters out there-- denial is a powerful drug. But judging by trump’s cratering approval rating, and his address that was… > [@madmonk28](#): > > …drenched in panic as he tried to bully an entire nation into admitting he’s doing a great job. …the scales are finally falling from some people’s eyes. Maybe just my wishful thinking though 🤷‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/228 "2025-12-18T18:26:05Z")
> [@solost](#): > > But judging by trump’s cratering approval rating, and his address that was… I find his approval shockingly high. It hovers around 40% and he has always under performed in polls compared to his actual support on Election Day. His support is still there, they’re just (temporarily) embarrassed to admit it. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/229 "2025-12-18T18:26:51Z")
> [@solost](#): > > cratering approval rating Alas, it is far, far, far from “cratering,” at least by my use of that word. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/230 "2025-12-18T18:27:41Z")
That $1,776 bonus paid to military personnel? It’s coming out of their housing allowance. Robbing Peter to pay Peter, brilliant! > ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/231 "2025-12-18T18:28:37Z")
> [@solost](#): > > cratering approval rating Taps sign: > [@The Impending MAGA Implosion (What's Changed?)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-impending-maga-implosion-whats-changed/1025125/58): > > In 1928, Herbert Hoover won the Presidency. Over the next four years he presided over the Great Depression, the Smoot Hawley tariff act, he had the army attack a homeless camp made up of World War One veterans and their families, over 6,500 banks shut down between 1929-1933 which cost millions of people their life savings, the Nazis came to power in Germany… and, despite this, Hoover still received 75% of his 1928 vote count in November 1932. What can I say, other than the majority of Republic… (Sorry, I quoted the wrong person when I started this post!) ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/232 "2025-12-18T18:33:44Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I’m not sure he even _knows_ what he says are lies or not anymore. I do think he really believes he is a great President, the greatest President ever, and that he is doing an ‘A+++++’ job on the economy, as he said in a recent interview. I can believe that for purely qualitative comments, “I’m the best there is, he’s the worst there ever was” kinds of things. But he’s spouting out specific numbers for things like the cost of groceries and gas, the number of jobs created, and how many are going to Americans vs. immigrants. You don’t just accidentally say “100% of new jobs created went to Americans”, you have to know that that number is just made up. No way has he ever seen a real report that says that. You don’t specifically say gas is $1.98 a gallon if you’re just unconsciously bullshitting. He knows the numbers don’t back him up, because whenever someone points that out, he says the real numbers are “fake news”. ---
**Author:** ![irae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@irae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irae)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/233 "2025-12-18T18:35:40Z")
Did he provide any details of the FIFA health care plan, or nah? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/234 "2025-12-18T18:37:39Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > But judging by trump’s cratering approval rating, and his address that was… > > I find his approval shockingly high. It hovers around 40% and he has always under performed in polls compared to his actual support on Election Day. His support is still there, they’re just (temporarily) embarrassed to admit it. > [@JKellyMap](#): > > Alas, it is far, far, far from “cratering,” at least by my use of that word. According to [this NPR article from yesterday](https://www.npr.org/2025/12/17/nx-s1-5645003/trump-poll-economy-approval), 38% overall approval, 36% on the economy. Yes, knowing who and what he is, it’s surprising it’s even that high, but in terms of historic presidential approval ratings, it’s pretty pathetic. I believe there is a solid bedrock core of about 1/3 of American voters who love him _ **because** _ of his worst sexist, racist, hateful impulses, not in spite of them. He’s down close to that remaining core of deplorables, and the only way he would lose them is by becoming _ **more** _ Presidential. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/235 "2025-12-18T18:37:53Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > there _IS_ no man behind the curtain, at all. _There is no curtain_. He’s just out in front of us, every day, showing us that he’s not a wizard. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/236 "2025-12-18T18:40:05Z")
> [@solost](#): > > According to [this NPR article from yesterday](https://www.npr.org/2025/12/17/nx-s1-5645003/trump-poll-economy-approval), 38% overall approval, 36% on the economy. Yes, knowing who and what he is, it’s surprising it’s even that high, but in terms of historic presidential approval ratings, it’s pretty pathetic. Again though, he always polls about 3% below his actual approval. So about 43% Americans are fascists. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/237 "2025-12-18T18:43:02Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > So about 43% Americans are fascists. I can _almost_ understand supporting fascism. But I’m at a loss about why they would support such a stupid, vulgar and incompetent fascist. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/238 "2025-12-18T18:45:21Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I can _almost_ understand supporting fascism. But I’m at a loss about why they would support such a stupid, vulgar and incompetent fascist. He behaves the way they would if they could, they would rape girls, they would openly lust after their daughters, they are racists. He is who they are. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/239 "2025-12-18T18:49:16Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > I can believe that for purely qualitative comments, “I’m the best there is, he’s the worst there ever was” kinds of things. But he’s spouting out specific numbers for things like the cost of groceries and gas, the number of jobs created, and how many are going to Americans vs. immigrants. You don’t just accidentally say “100% of new jobs created went to Americans”, you have to know that that number is just made up. No way has he ever seen a real report that says that. You don’t specifically say gas is $1.98 a gallon if you’re just unconsciously bullshitting. He knows the numbers don’t back him up, because whenever someone points that out, he says the real numbers are “fake news”. You know, I have no idea whether he knows or cares when he’s lying, or what of the myriad of incredibly stupid things he says he actually believes or is just throwing out to entertain the masses. He’s repeatedly said things like “drug prices will come down 600%, 800%, 1200%”. Or “I aced 3 cognitive tests-- you couldn’t do that”. Or “stealth planes are invisible until the bomb bay doors open-- I’ve seen it”. Does he knows those are lies, or at least ridiculously stupid statements? Is that calculated idiocy? Or just actual idiocy? ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766/240 "2025-12-18T18:52:44Z")
I think most of that is just idiocy. Someone tried to explain it to him, and this is what comes out after being filtered by his brain. It was like the early COVID press conferences, where he’d try to paraphrase something the doctors and scientists had told him, and they just winced at the mangled pile of crap that he ended up spewing, knowing that all their efforts at education were for naught. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trump-says-he-is-going-to-give-an-address-on-prime-time-tv-on-december-17-2025-are-you-going-to-watch-to-see-what-he-says/1025766.md?page=13)