GOP strategists say Dems made ‘huge’ mistake during Trump’s State of the Union

Republican political strategists are salivating over what they perceive as a Democratic Party misfire during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, arguing that open defiance and disdain for Trump’s message will be “huge” for the GOP in the upcoming midterm elections.

One of the most dramatic moments of Trump’s speech Tuesday night was when the President challenged every lawmaker in the chamber to stand up if they believe their first duty is to protect American citizens rather than illegal immigrants.

“One of the great things about the State of the Union is that it gives Americans a chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe,” Trump said. “So tonight, I invite every legislator to join my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle: 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.”

As Trump said this, Republicans stood and Democrats remained seated, prompting condemnation from the president. The White House called the moment “a must-see event.”

Ryan James Girdusky, a GOP strategist at 1776 Project PAC, immediately recognized the importance of the moment and wrote of X: “A billion-dollar ad wrote itself because it couldn’t stand.”

“Trump ran a great midterm ad, if you care about American citizens instead of illegal aliens stand up and all Democrats sit down,” Girdusky wrote.

“This was a huge moment because it forced Democrats to define themselves as radicals who would rather defend illegal aliens than law-abiding American citizens,” Tim Murtaugh, Trump’s former senior adviser and campaign communications director, told Fox News Digital.

“There could be no clearer example of Democrats rooting against America when they are not in power,” said Murtaugh, director of Line Drive Public Relations.

He accused Democrats of being “ashamed to be Americans, whether they’re in power or not.”

“To them, good news for Americans is bad news for Democrats,” Murtaugh said. “They won’t solve any problems, they will only increase problems, and the American people should see them declare it themselves.”

“That moment will definitely be beneficial, and President Trump knows them so well that he was able to get them to do it,” he added.

OMAR SHOUTED ‘YOU ARE A MURDERER’ AND ‘LIAR’ AT TRUMP AT STATE OF THE UNION

Vice President J.D. Vance attends President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 (Official White House Photo: Emily J. Higgins)

Lora Ries, director of The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Border Security and Immigration, told Fox News Digital that congressional Democrats “have made it clear to America that they believe their number one duty is to protect illegal aliens, not American citizens.”

“I hope this has opened many more eyes to see how Democrats are relying on illegal aliens (and other non-citizens) to vote illegally to hold on to power, ballot harvesting, and using head counts from the U.S. Census to maintain congressional districts and the number of presidential electoral votes in their states,” he said, adding, “This is why Democrats refuse to ask for proof of citizenship when registering voters or proof of identity when voting.”

He defended passage of the Save America Act, saying, “I will make these critically needed changes to bring integrity and trust to our federal elections.” The Savings Act, officially the Protecting America Voter Eligibility Act, passed the House but faces an uncertain path in the Senate.

Although Republicans predict that the Democrats’ moment to settle in the midterm elections will be of great importance, not everyone sees it that way. Former President Barack Obama’s speechwriter and Democratic strategist Jon Favreau mocked Republicans for drawing attention to the moment, writing to X: “It’s really funny how much effort they’re trying to make this into a thing.”

DEMS SUSPECTS ICE DETAINERS AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AS GUESTS AT TRUMP’S SPEECH: DHS

U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress at the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. Sitting behind him are Vice President J.D. Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. (Kenny Holston / Pool, via Reuters)

“House Democrats have been clear that we need to secure the border and fix the broken immigration system, both of which can be done without shooting American citizens on their own streets and terrorizing communities,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Communications Director Courtney Rice told Fox News Digital.

“Republicans’ overreach in enacting immigration legislation has turned voters against them,” Rice said, adding that this is reflected in the polls.

“Trump continues to belittle and ridicule voters’ concerns about how expensive everything is, while Republicans refuse to say or do the opposite,” he said, adding: “Their cruelty and refusal to listen to voters’ concerns will be the reason they lose in November.”

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Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller, meanwhile, said the moment Democrats refused to resist “chilled to the core” and that it would “live on for a thousand years.”

“Democrats have declared to the world their fierce disdain for, and deep disloyalty towards, the true citizens of the United States. They have been challenged to stand up, over and over again. Over and over again. They have refused,” Miller said.

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