Contextualised with the inaugural grandstanding barely five weeks ago, the striking feature of Donald Trump’s first address to Congress was its generally conciliatory tone.

It was an appreciably watered down edition of the “America for Americans” bluster that has understandably alarmed the world and jolted — if not divided — the people in a nation of immigrants. The 45th President of America was less than his acerbic self, though the world must wonder whether he needed seven days to react to the killing of an Indian by a white American, crying “Get out of my country”.

It is hard not to wonder whether the President was chewing over the implications of the tragedy in a civilized world.

Trump has eventually lamented the killing, though as Head of State he ought to have done the least that was expected of him on the day of the mayhem in Kansas. Small wonder that the customary presentation to Congress has been compared to the State of the Union address. Markedly, he has stopped short of going on overdrive with his direly controversial agenda.

He was in the main riveted to governance and the goalposts. Were his scriptwriters suitably circumspect to craft the address accordingly, dwelling on protectionism, infrastructure investment, tougher immigration controls, the Mexico Wall, scrapping Obamacare, a crackdown on lobbying, and increased military spending?

Unmistakably, the language was more placatory as he reached out to black and Jewish Americans who have frequently been the target of his almost in-built antagonism. Absent also was the compulsive ranting against Muslims, indeed the hallmark of his campaign rhetoric. In foreign policy as well, there was no criticism of China and the bloc of seven Muslim nations whose citizens have been barred from setting foot in the US.

It would be presumptuous to imagine that President Trump has signalled a paradigm shift; still less that he has become mellow. There is no indication yet that the course of governance will change, though he has hinted at a “merit-based immigration system” that could benefit hi-tech professionals from India. (Srinivas Kuchibhotla belonged to that talented category).

On closer reflection, Trump was acutely aware that his address to a Republican Congress was a significant event in legislative terms. He could scarcely afford to offend the legislature, considering that an ambitious budget is scheduled to be unveiled later this month. Hence the respectful reference to the Congress role in crafting the legislative responses.

There was a measure of conciliation too as he clothed his speech with appeals to both Democrats and Republicans to work together and with reassuring remarks about international institutions, notably NATO. There is little doubt that the address was geared to the Congress gallery. It is far from certain that he will walk the talk, however.