Trump says Democrats 'ashamed' to stand for U.S. citizens

President Trump delivered a stark message on illegal immigration during his State of the Union address in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, accusing Democrats of being 'ashamed' to stand for U.S. citizens while renewing his calls for deportations and stricter voting requirements. During his address, Trump demanded that Congress pass legislation requiring identification and proof of citizenship before voting, claiming that opponents of voter ID want to cheat. 'Why would anybody not want voter ID? Because they want to cheat,' he stated. The president made the issue personal by challenging lawmakers to stand if they supported the principle that 'the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal immigrants.' When most Democrats remained seated, Trump directly addressed them: 'You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up.' Trump singled out the Somali community, claiming its members are responsible for collecting more than $19 billion in fraudulent government benefits. 'This is the kind of corruption that shreds the fabric of a nation,' he said, referring to what he called 'Somali pirates' who 'ransacked' the government. His comments drew an angry response from Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat who came to the U.S. as a Somali refugee, who shouted back from the chamber floor. The president declared a 'war on fraud,' arguing that 'importing these cultures through unrestricted and open borders brings these problems right here to the USA.' Democrats reacted strongly to Trump's rhetoric and calls for deportations by ICE agents. 'You're killing Americans,' shouted Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat. Rep. Norma Torres, a California Democrat, held up a sign with photos of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, protesters killed by immigration agents in Minnesota during recent ICE operations. Trump did not address these specific incidents but celebrated ICE's achievements in reducing illegal immigration, contrasting his record with what he portrayed as the Biden administration's failures. He also criticized the lack of English skills among some immigrants, suggesting it was dangerous for them to drive commercial vehicles, and highlighted the case of Dalilah Coleman, a 5-year-old injured in an accident caused by an undocumented immigrant driving a truck.