I know Trump can be presidential. At SOTU, he must show it. | Opinion

Watching President Donald Trump give a speech, such as the annual State of the Union address, is a lot like being at a holiday dinner with that weird uncle: Things could go smoothly, or it can get really awkward. Half of the time, you think, This is going really well. The other half of the time, you're thinking, I can't believe I'm here.

As a conservative, I want Trump to do well. He represents the wishes of 77 million Americans who voted for him. But I have learned to keep my expectations in check because delivering significant speeches isn't really his forte.

I hope Trump's speech on Feb. 24 lands well, not just because he's a Republican, but because a State of the Union is an important marker for our country to show Americans and the world just how incredible it is to be an American.

Trump's speech should highlight great Americans

Trump should continue the tradition of recognizing honored guests during key moments of his speech, highlighting individuals who have benefited from his policy agenda, as well as exceptional Americans who have accomplished remarkable achievements.

As of this writing, I don't know if the men's hockey team will be there, but having them there as guests would be a great moment for Americans who love hockey and love to win on the world's stage. Even better, it's not really something Trump himself can take credit for, and it's not political. I can hear the "USA! USA! USA!" chants now.

During last year's speech, Trump invited about a dozen people who reflected policies. The family members of Laken Riley and Jocelyn Nungaray, whose deaths were linked to illegal immigrants, were there. Who can forget the appearance of Marc Fogel, the American teacher whom Trump helped free from Russian prison?

The guests a president chooses to invite to the State of the Union show other Americans his accomplishments in a human way that is often compelling. Trump shouldn’t hesitate to highlight Americans whom people can relate to, draw inspiration from and aspire to become.

Trump's economy is strong. He needs to make sure Americans know that.

Still, confidence in Trump has declined a bit, even among Republicans. Not surprisingly, his policy wins seem obvious to me as an observer, but they have a hard time breaking through the mainstream media's leftist bias and the Democrats' insistent anti-Trump messaging.

I think Trump should use the State of the Union as a bullhorn to remind Americans about how well important issues are doing. The economy is strong: Gross domestic product growth is steady, inflation has subsided to 2.4%, 130,000 jobs were added in January, unemployment fell to 4.3%, and gas prices have fallen.

Trump's State of the Union needs to be a little less 'Trumpian'

Clear, crisp communication is not Trump's strong suit. He tends to start strong, and he's able to make a few solid points here and there, but then he resorts to rambling and speaking in a stream-of-consciousness way that's hard to follow.

I would love it if Trump would remain focused, energetic, clear and direct.

Trump's State of the Union might be as unpredictable as your weird uncle at a holiday dinner, but Americans should still be proud to be American.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.