By Harold Pease, Ph. D.
We live in the day when one of the greatest political parties in American history is self-destructing in full view of most adult Americans. The statement posed by President Donald Trump in his State of the Union Address before Congress Feb.24, 20236, “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens—not illegal aliens! If you agree with this statement then stand up and show your support. ALL Democrats remained seated and silent. Not one Democrat member of Congress stood for this foundational principle, “that all government leaders must serve citizens before invaders. Never has there been a more stunning moment in Congress” said Stephen Miller adding, “Democrats declared to the world their searing distain for, and profound disloyalty to, the actual citizens of the United States. Over and over they refused. It was a moment that chills to the bone and which will live for a thousand years.”
Commentator Scot Jennings On The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, called it the “Moment of the night: Democrats refusing to stand to affirm their allegiance to American citizens over aliens, will be the signature moment of this speech…They took an oath to protect and serve the American people none got up, they just broke their oath. The country saw this.” Indeed, it was impossible to misunderstand the statement made to them. Zero stood! Their contempt for the people, their elected government, their oath and the Constitution was stunning, unanimous, and totally on display. They verified to Americans they disagreed with the statement made.
Democrat Senator John Fetterman read it the only way it could be read, “This does not look good for the Democrat Party.” Indeed, the whole evening could not be read otherwise on almost every issue (X22 Report hereafter not cited, Ep. 3848b, Feb. 25, 2026, 50:24 ) The State of the Union Address demonstrated that the Democrats weren’t for American interests. They’d rather have higher taxes, and insurance companies getting rich off the poor, in addition to supporting illegals over citizens. The Democrat Party looked like the “true enemy” of the Republic. How do we know? 89% of the people want the Save America Act, Congressional Democrats do not. These just sat and everyone saw it. They would not clap even learning that the murder rate had descended to its lowest rate in America in 125 years (Ibid., 13:43).
Too few Democrats stood or applauded even for those receiving our nation’s highest honors. Buddy Taggart “badly wounded and almost killed by enemy machine guns” in World War II recovered and later helped “liberated the largest internment camp in the Philippines. One of the largest anywhere in the world,” and now will celebrate his 100th birthday this July 4, 2026. And just last July 4th when floodwaters tore through a girls’ summer camp in central Texas…rising 26 feet in a matter of minutes, tragically claiming many, many lives. As the waters threatened to sweep her away, 11-year-old Milly Cate McClymond closed her eyes and prayed to God. She thought she was going to die. Scott Ruskan descended from a helicopter above. Nobody knew where he came from. It was Scott’s first-ever rescue mission. … And he lifted not just Milly Cate, but 164 others to safety” (State of the Union Address).
Karoline Leavitt provided a list of issues the Democrats in Congress refused to stand up for during the State of the Union Address, other than placing American citizens above illegal alien invaders. These included: voter ID laws, the murder rate being at its lowest since 1900, keeping violent criminals locked up, protecting parental rights, stopping fraud, taking on drug cartels, no tax on tips, overtime and Social Security, and the present most secure border in history. The contrast could not be clearer. (E.p. 3848b, February 25, 2026,48:48).
Trump also had senators pause and indicate their support for the SAVE America Act previously passed in the House of Representatives last year. Democrats and RINOS do not support the SAVE America Act (Ibid., 55:15) which requires that only American citizens vote in America’s elections. This is presently held up in a US Senate Committee by RINOs, previous and current, Senate Majority Leaders Mitch McConnel and John Thune. Democrats and RINOS, working together, still encourage illegals to vote in our elections. The country saw this also. Democrats painted themselves as un-American and not representing the interest of the American people by Trump’s brilliantly forcing a vote with their feet (Ibid., 59:00). They may have lost elections 2026 and 2028 by this public demonstration.
Sadly and pathetically “There was a substantial boycott by Democratic members of Congress, with roughly half of House and Senate Democrats absent from the address in protest. Axios’ head-count analysis found that about 20 Senate Democrats and nearly 110 House Democrats did not take their seats in the chamber at the start of the address.” (Axios, Feb. 24, 2026). “This is what Democrats are [were] doing instead of attending President Trump’s State of the Union Address. Democrats are literally hanging out with deranged leftist dressed in giraffe costumes bragging about getting arrested by ICE. Some dressed up as frogs” (RNC Research, Feb. 24, 2026, Ibid., 41:40). Voters should primary these.
But most Americans loved Trump’s State of the Union Address which was received positively by 63% (+27), negative 36% —by CNN, an extreme leftist Deep State news outlet, (Ep. 3848b, February 25, 2026, 59:20). So likely the favorability percentage was much higher.
Trump ended his 1 hour and 41 minute address positively with, “The Golden Age of America is upon us, the revolution that began in 1776 has not ended. It still continues, because the flame of liberty and independence still burns in the heart of every American patriot. And our future will be bigger, better, brighter, bolder and more glorious than ever before” (The American Presidency Project, 47th President of the United States: 2025—present. Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union, Feb. 24. 2026). And it is looking to be so more every day as America returns to the U.S. Constitution and freedom and removes those destroying it.
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution and a syndicated columnist on current events. Read his weekly columns at www.LibertyUnderFire.org Column #862 Help preserve our Republic while we still can by sharing this column.