In a striking display of political praise, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich offered a glowing review of a recent speech by former President Donald Trump, drawing immediate and widespread skepticism from observers who viewed the address very differently.
A Rave Review on Fox News
Appearing on Sean Hannity's Fox News program on Wednesday, December 18, 2025, Gingrich lauded Trump's 19-minute address to the nation. He described it as a "disciplined speech" rich with facts and directly compared its quality to the oratory of the late President Ronald Reagan.
"That was a good speech. It was an important speech," Gingrich, a longtime ally of Trump, continued. He went further, suggesting history would look kindly on the moment: "Someday people will say it was one of the most important speeches of his career because it set the table for the entire debate over the next year."
Gingrich framed the speech as a defining critique of President Joe Biden's tenure and a clear roadmap for the future. He concluded his segment with a warning to political opponents, stating, "I believe President Trump showed tonight that he’s prepared to focus, to be disciplined, to communicate, and if I were a Democrat, tonight would leave me very unnerved."
A Chorus of Criticism and Mockery
The effusive praise stood in stark contrast to the broader reception of the speech, which had been widely characterized as insubstantial by commentators from both major parties. The disconnect prompted a swift and fierce backlash on social media platforms.
Critics openly questioned Gingrich's assessment, with many implying a deliberate distortion of reality. One user pointedly asked, "How much is Newt getting paid for gaslighting?" while another suggested, "Someone really needs to check on Newt because he’s having a break from reality."
The comparison to Ronald Reagan proved particularly contentious. "And Ronald Reagan is turning over in his grave at this comparison," wrote one commenter. Others mocked the perceived low standards, with one noting, "The bar is so low the most flexible of Limbo dancers could never." The overall sentiment from detractors ranged from disbelief and humor to accusations of outright desperation from Trump's supporters.
Historical Ambitions and Political Stakes
During his Fox News appearance, Gingrich also made expansive claims about Trump's potential legacy. He labeled Trump "one of the most consequential presidents" in American history and suggested that with successful Republican midterm elections in 2026, Trump could ascend to rival the nation's top three or four presidents.
This projection ties the perceived quality of a single speech directly to the upcoming electoral battles, highlighting how political narratives are constructed and contested. The intense division in reactions underscores the deeply polarized media environment, where a single event can be simultaneously celebrated as historic and dismissed as inconsequential.
The episode serves as a vivid case study in the power of partisan framing, demonstrating how figures like Gingrich aim to shape public perception, while immediate digital feedback from a broader audience can challenge and mock those very narratives in real-time.
