A Fox News Digital focus group, consisting of Democrats, Republicans, and independents, offered reactions to President Donald Trump’s remarks during his joint session of Congress speech, particularly his comments on “wokeness” and gender issues.
The live dial tests revealed a sharp divide in the audience’s response to Trump’s statements. Republicans and independents strongly supported his declaration that the U.S. would no longer be “woke,” especially his stance on hiring practices based on skill rather than race or gender. These groups approved of Trump’s position, reflecting widespread support among conservatives for his emphasis on merit-based decisions.
On the other hand, Democrats showed significant disapproval. Their dial reactions were either neutral or slightly negative, indicating that they were not as receptive to Trump’s position on issues like “wokeness” and gender. This disparity highlighted the growing ideological divide between the parties on cultural and social issues.
When Trump made the statement that “there are only two genders,” the reaction was similar. Republicans and independents expressed strong approval, while Democrats reacted with neutral or negative responses. Fox News’ Lee Carter noted that Democrats appeared less engaged during this portion of the speech, while independents seemed to align more closely with Republicans on these particular issues.
This focus group data reflects the polarization in American politics, particularly regarding issues of identity and social values, and suggests that Trump’s remarks resonated most with conservative and independent voters, while leaving many Democrats less enthused or even disapproving.