President Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on Democrats over illegal immigration during his State of the Union address. Trump accused Democrats of prioritizing undocumented immigrants over American citizens, while Democrats countered that his deportation policies have gone far beyond targeting criminals. The conflict between Trump, Republicans, and Democrats is expected to intensify ahead of the November midterm elections.
According to The Wall Street Journal on the 25th (local time), Trump stated during his address the previous day, "The government's first duty is to protect American citizens, not illegal immigrants," adding, "If you agree with this statement, please stand up and show your support." Republican lawmakers rose and cheered, while Democratic lawmakers remained seated.
Presidential aides subsequently claimed that Democrats are prioritizing the interests of undocumented immigrants over American citizens. Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's immigration policy, said, "They repeatedly refused requests to stand up. This will be talked about for a thousand years."
Trump's repeated use of the "illegal immigrant" card is driven by the November midterm elections. He employed the same strategy to gain momentum in the 2016 presidential election. Trump has argued that immigrants who entered the United States in recent years have caused problems for citizens, and that Democrats failed to take proper action to prevent this.
Experts analyzed that immigration—Trump's most powerful political asset—could become a liability. His remarks came as public opinion on his hardline immigration stance deteriorated following a Minneapolis shooting incident. Additional headwinds include a partial government shutdown triggered by bipartisan conflict over Department of Homeland Security restructuring. Dozens of Democrats attended rallies opposing immigration enforcement rather than Trump's State of the Union address.
According to WSJ, a majority of voters believe Trump has "crossed the line" in deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deporting undocumented immigrants. Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego stated, "They are targeting American citizens, engaging in racial profiling, and even arresting Latino veterans."
Meanwhile, House Democrats declared at their annual policy conference in Virginia on the 25th, "The era of MAGA extremists is over, and House Democrats will soon take the majority. President Trump and House Republicans have let the American people down." A Washington Post poll showed 60% of respondents view Trump unfavorably. Democrats need only three additional seats to secure a House majority.