NewsNation contributor Chris Cillizza said on his YouTube channel Wednesday that Democrats’ “worst moment” during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address came when they did not express support for Americans over illegal immigrants.
Democrats remained seated when Trump asked members of Congress to rise if they agreed that the primary “duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens” during his Tuesday speech. Cillizza argued on his channel that Democrats’ conduct would not appeal to most Americans.
“I think that’s a bad moment for Democrats,” Cillizza said. “While I understand that for them, standing and applauding that message would be, in their mind, kind of standing and applauding everything that has been tied to immigration, particularly over the last few months of what has happened in Minneapolis with Alex Pretti and Renee Good, with the heavy-handed tactics across the country of the Border Patrol and [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] ICE agents.”
“But I think for the average person … ‘Yes, we need to protect American citizens’ rights over people who are here illegally’ is probably something that you should clap for,” he added. “Again, I understand the conundrum there for Democrats. But I think you probably stand up, politely clap, then sit back down, and then afterwards say, ‘Donald Trump is way oversimplifying this issue. I disagree with him on this, this, and this, but I agree with him that we have to protect American citizens first.’ They didn’t do it.”
While Trump chastised lawmakers who did not stand for putting Americans first, Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan shouted at him.
“[Democrats] are blocking the removal of these people out of our country and you should be ashamed of yourself,” Trump said while they yelled.
Moreover, Speaker Mike Johnson said on Newsmax Tuesday that he opted not to eject disruptive Democrats from the chamber so Americans could witness their “shameful” behavior.
“[T]hey refused to stand when the president said, ‘Answer this simple question: the first job of the government in the country is to defend Americans and not illegal aliens.’ They sat on their hands for that,” Johnson said. “So their actions and their words speak loudly to the American people, and their record is as shameful as their antics tonight.”
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