The president begged for unity before unleashing a speech that focused squarely on his most controversial policy. A traditional show of support from the speaker of the House turned into a sarcastic instant meme.

Such is politics in 2019.

President Trump’s State of the Union speech can be measured in a number of ways: length (it was the longest such speech in almost 20 years); content (Trump predictably focused much of the speech on immigration, while also announcing a date and time for his next meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un); and, maybe most fittingly, the visuals.

From Nancy Pelosi’s applause to children nodding off on a school night to a historic first, here are the most important sights from the 96th State of the Union message.

Clapping, Sleeping And Serenading: The State Of The Union’s Evocative Moments

Photo: Doug Mills/Pool/Reuters