Donald Trump’s State of the Union address descended into a screaming match as the president embarked on an angry, racist tirade over illegal immigrants and alleged fraud.
About 50 minutes into the speech, dramatic scenes ensued after Trump began to demonize immigrants and declared that he would ignite a “war on fraud” against Somalis in Minnesota.
“When it comes to the corruption that is plundering America, there has been no more stunning example than Minnesota—where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer,” Trump said. Trump himself was found liable for civil fraud in 2024 and was also criminally convicted for falsifying business records.
“Importing these cultures through unrestricted immigration and open borders brings those problems right here to the USA,” he added.
However, things escalated even further when the president, who had been trying to needle Democrats for much of his speech, commanded the audience to stand.
“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,” Trump said, ignoring the killing of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents.
While Republicans stood, several Democrats, including Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, remained seated, prompting the president to rip into party members.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up!” he said. “You should be ashamed!”
But this, in turn, led Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who was wearing a “F--- ICE” pin on her jacket, to yell back at the president from across the room, calling him a “liar.”
As Trump continued, Omar, whom Trump has previously referred to as “garbage” and someone who should “go back” to Somalia, began screaming, “You kill Americans,” an apparent reference to the deaths of Pretti and Good last month.
But the president remained defiant as he moved on to other topics, such as immigration, crime, and election security, while directing more of his remarks at Democrats in the room.
“These people are crazy, I’m telling ya, they’re crazy,” he said.
“Boy oh boy, we’re lucky we have a country with people like this. Democrats are destroying our country, but we’ve stopped it just in the nick of time.”
The speech was a chance for Trump to recalibrate ahead of November’s midterms in the face of disastrous opinion polls.
A Washington Post–ABC/Ipsos poll released Monday, for instance, shows 60 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump’s job performance, with 47 percent strongly disapproving—the highest disapproval level in years.
Things got off to an awkward start when one of Trump’s own Supreme Court appointees—Neil Gorsuch—refused to show up to the State of the Union address, days after striking down his signature economic policy.
Fellow Trump appointee Amy Coney Barrett, who also voted against his global tariffs, showed up alongside Chief Justice John Roberts, conservative justice Brett Kavanaugh and liberal justice Elena Kagan.
However, cameras captured an extreme close-up of Barrett sitting a few feet away and staring down the president as he complained about the “very unfortunate” Supreme Court ruling.
Another dramatic moment unfolded soon after the speech began when Texas congressman Al Green was escorted out of the House chamber for holding a sign reading “Black people aren’t apes!”
The sign was an apparent reference to the racist video Trump posted earlier this month, which depicted former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Overall, the speech lasted for 108 minutes, setting a new record for State of the Union addresses.
But less than an hour in, signs of fatigue were already visible in the chamber. Cameras captured Democratic Rep. David Scott, 80, with his eyes shut for prolonged periods, while New York Rep. Tom Suozzi, 63, was also seen slumped forward with his eyes shut and his head in his hands.
“Members of Congress are literally falling asleep as Trump slurs and rambles incoherently,” wrote a Democratic HQ account as images of the men went viral.
