Democrats shrug being on record picking illegal immigrants over Americans

Democrats are pushing back against Republican claims that their response during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address will hurt them politically, arguing the split-screen moment is unlikely to reshape the 2026 midterm election landscape even as the GOP moves quickly to turn it into campaign messaging.

The debate followed a moment in which Democrats remained seated while Trump called for prioritizing American citizens over illegal immigrants. Republicans quickly framed the exchange as politically damaging, but Democratic strategists argued the episode is unlikely to reshape the midterm landscape, saying voters tend to view State of the Union speeches through a partisan lens.