[Federalist] President Donald Trump praised Tuskegee Airman and retired Brig. Gen. Charles McGee in his State of the Union Address Tuesday night. McGee served 30 years in the military and flew 409 aerial fighter combat missions.McGee, who turned 100 years old Dec. 7, fought in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam and visited Trump in the Oval Office earlier in the day to have stars pinned to his uniform.
"Charles McGee was born in Cleveland, Ohio, one century ago. Charles is one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, the first black fighter pilots," Trump explained. "A few weeks ago, I signed a bill promoting Charles McGee to brigadier general. ... Gen. McGee, our nation salutes you."
McGee was joined Tuesday in the House gallery by his great-grandson, Iain Lanphier, who was also introduced during the address to the nation as an aspiring fighter in the Space Force.
"Iain has always dreamed of going to space," Trump said. "He aspires to go to the Air Force Academy, and then he has his eye on the Space Force. As Iain says, ’Most people look up at space. I want to look down on the world.’"
Trump’s address comes amid the president’s highest approval rating among Americans since taking the Oval Office in 2017, with Gallup reporting a 49 percent approval rating for Trump despite an ongoing impeachment trial expected to wrap up Wednesday in the Senate. In contrast, Barack Obama only held a 46 percent approval rating at the same point in his presidency in 2012.