Speech viewers stunned by on-script, less fiery Trump
What they witnessed instead was a poised and on-script president, an image some said was as stunning at this stage as any outrageous statement.
Mike Mullowney, of Boston, who did not vote for Trump, sat down with his family to watch "a complete circus" and was instead shocked to find the president acting, well, presidential.
Loud, clear condemnation of "radical Islamic terror" and immigrant criminals.
Staunch Trump supporters who fought to elect the ferocious rally speaker were mostly fine with the more scripted president, too.
Kim Jurincic was among some 20 Trump supporters who watched the speech at a pizza-and-viewing party in the Detroit area.
Putting on that calmer attitude brings along a sense of respect and a genuine desire to cooperate as opposed to the Trump attitude we're used to where he's always on the attack.