Democrat Congresswoman: Trump Asking Lawmakers to Stand for Americans over Illegals Was ‘Racist’



Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

by John Binder 25 Feb 2026
677
Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR) says President Donald Trump’s asking lawmakers to stand for American citizens over illegal aliens was “thinly veiled racist language.”

During Trump’s first State of the Union (SOTU) address of his second term, he asked members of Congress to “stand up if you agree with this statement: The first duty of American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

In response, all Republicans present stood for the statement, while no Democrats present stood up. Footage of Democrats has quickly gone viral as nearly all did not clap for the statement either.

Rapid Response 47



@RapidResponse47
·
Follow

.@POTUS: "If you agree with this statement then stand up and show your support: the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens not illegal aliens."

*DEMOCRATS REMAIN SEATED

*SICK!



https://twitter.com/i/status/2026498240296706252

10:23 PM · Feb 24, 2026

Following the SOTU address, Bynum was interviewed by a reporter about Trump’s request.

“What did you think about that moment where the president was asking Democrats to stand up for American citizens during that part of his speech when he was talking about immigration and immigration enforcement efforts?” the reporter asked.

“I think you can agree with that ‘what,’ like standing up for American citizens, but I disagree with the ‘how.’ And so it’s always about how do we bring our country together but not stand on the backs of others,” Bynum said. “There’s thinly veiled racist language, anti-immigrant language in what he was asking and that was uncomfortable.”

RNC Research



@RNCResearch
·
Follow

INSANE

Democrat Rep. Janelle Bynum said it was "racist" and "uncomfortable" when President Trump asked Democrats to stand up for American citizens.



https://twitter.com/i/status/2026521895462449262

11:57 PM · Feb 24, 2026

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2...ls-was-racist/