Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer defended Democrats for refusing to stand at the State of the Union Tuesday night when President Donald Trump implored both parties to rise if they believe the first duty of the government is to protect American citizens, not undocumented immigrants.
“We agree we need to protect Americans,” Schumer told CNN on Wednesday. “He’s not. By his reckless ICE agency in Minnesota, two Americans were killed. Americans are being pulled out of their cars and beaten. Americans’ houses, the doors are being knocked down, you know, without a warrant.”
Republicans were quick to capitalize on the moment — a visual of Trump gesturing to the Democrats still seated in the chamber while Republicans stood and clapped for well over a minute. They said it could haunt Democrats ahead of the 2026 midterms.
“Unbelievable that Democrats would not stand to reaffirm the American government’s first duty is to American citizens, NOT illegal aliens,” Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson wrote on X.
Schumer told CNN that it’s the president who is failing to live up to that ideal.
“No other police department in America run by Americans has done what ICE has done,” he said. “So, yes, we want to protect Americans. He’s not doing it. And that’s why the American people are against what ICE is doing. So it was legitimate and right not to stand.”
