With Polls Up and Acquittal in Sight, Trump Revels in Democratic Dysfunction

WASHINGTON — When President Trump looks back on his best days in the White House, Tuesday may land near the top of the list.

With Democrats in disarray at the start of their nominating season, Mr. Trump will take the national stage to address his largest audience of the year assured of acquittal in his Senate trial and enjoying his highest public approval since taking office.

For a president impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors just seven weeks ago, he finds himself in a strikingly strong position as his re-election campaign gets underway in earnest. His State of the Union address on Tuesday night will enable him to frame the debate while his opposition not only has no clear leader but embarrassed itself with a vote-counting debacle in Iowa.

Not that he can necessarily count on any of this to last. The economy, while healthy, has slowed its growth and could take a hit from the China travel restrictions imposed to fight the coronavirus outbreak. At some point, the Democrats will anoint a nominee who could unify the party against Mr. Trump. And John R. Bolton, the former national security adviser, plans to publish a book next month that is expected to have revelations about the president’s use of his office to further his own political interests.