CNN's Van Jones: Trump 'became president' in honoring Navy SEAL widow Carryn Owens
After Trump's first Capitol Hill address to a joint session of Congress, CNN commentator Van Jones is pointing to one moment in particular when the 2016 election winner "became president."
President Trump's speech was jam-packed with details on how his administration seeks to put his campaign promises into action -- but Jones says a pause to honor the widow of fallen Navy SEAL William "Ryan" Owens was the shining instant of the evening.
"He became president of the United States in that moment, period," Jones said during post-speech CNN coverage. "That was one of the most extraordinary moments you have ever seen in American politics. Period."
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Senior chief Owens died during a ground mission in Yemen a little more than a week after Trump took office. More than a dozen al-Qaeda militants and 20 civilians, including women and children, were also killed in the attack.
"Ryan's legacy is etched into eternity," Trump said in his speech. "For as the Bible teaches us, there is no greater act of love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. Ryan laid down his life for his friends, for his country, and for our freedom –- we will never forget Ryan."
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Jones -- an often outspoken critic of President Trump -- continued his reprieve from rebuke -- saying Trump did something last night "that you cannot take away from him."
"For people who had been hoping he would become unifying, hoping that he might find someway to become presidential, they should be happy with that moment," Jones said. "For people who have been hoping that maybe he would remain a divisive cartoon, which he often finds a way to do, they should be a little bit worried tonight. Because that thing you just saw him do, if he finds a way to do that over and over again, he's going to be there for eight years."
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