US President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday delivered his last State of the Union address before the 2020 election. The bitter feud between Trump and US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has drawn widespread attention.

Trump touted his accomplishments as he did during the former addresses, claiming, "Our economy is the best it has ever been." He also mentioned his achievements on education, healthcare and border security. In an attempt to highlight the competence of his administration, Trump lashed out at the administration of his predecessor Barack Obama. 

Trump listed a string of accomplishments to showcase he is making the US "greater than ever before." "Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging, and our country is thriving and highly respected again," the president said. He claimed since he took office, his administration has created 7 million new jobs, which have improved the median household incomes. He touted the US as "energy independent," and the world's largest producer of oil and natural gas.

Washington has ratcheted up its spending on national defense, investing "a record-breaking $2.2 trillion" to improve its military equipment. The country is also getting its "allies to help pay their fair share," to reduce the US financial burden, the president said. Trump also trumpeted his harsh immigration policies have produced significant results, effectively reducing illegal immigration and boosting border management.

However, more eye-catching than the content of Trump's speech was his simmering feud with Pelosi. Before delivering his address, Trump appeared to refuse to shake Pelosi's hand, and he launched continuous attacks on the Democrat's policy proposals during his speech.

At the end of the speech, Pelosi, who was seated behind Trump, tore a paper copy of Trump's speech in half, a gesture seen around the world. Such emotional moves by these two powerful leaders have highlighted the fierce political infighting and severe political polarization in US politics. 

There is no doubt that Trump's State of the Union address was aimed at winning support for his reelection. The 2020 Democratic Iowa caucus was plunged into chaos, apparently by the failure of a phone app used in the voting. It seems that major candidates in Democratic presidential primaries have hardly made an impact on Trump's support. Therefore, Trump couldn't help taunt the Democratic Party's chaotic performance. He is obviously no fan of Pelosi who played a major role in his impeachment. 

Given his strong personal style and anti-establishment characteristic, Trump has become the biggest driving force that is tearing the US apart. This can be well proven by votes in the US Congress on issues such as immigration and gun control. Thanks to Ukraingate and Russiagate, Trump's presidential journey has been filled with controversy, which is also proof of US political polarization. 

Nowadays, contradictions between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party are irreconcilable. It is almost impossible for the two sides to reach consensus on any issue. Given the influence of political polarization, intrigues among politicians are growing more blatant. As the 2020 presidential election approaches, the issue of political polarization in the US will become increasingly prominent. US society will thus be further divided and is likely to last for years. 

The author is secretary-general of the International Security Study Center at China Foreign Affairs University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn