{"id":2573690,"date":"2026-02-25T18:16:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T23:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-ready-to-hit-democrats-for-picking-illegal-immigrants-over-americans\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T18:18:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T23:18:14","slug":"gop-ready-to-hit-democrats-for-picking-illegal-immigrants-over-americans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-ready-to-hit-democrats-for-picking-illegal-immigrants-over-americans\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP ready to hit Democrats for picking illegal immigrants over Americans"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgop-ready-to-hit-democrats-for-picking-illegal-immigrants-over-americans%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2573690&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article explains that Republicans view President Trump\u2019s State of the union as an opportunity to frame democrats as prioritizing illegal immigrants over american citizens. They plan to use the moment to portray vulnerable Democrats as out of touch in upcoming elections, and to run ads arguing that Democrats side with illegals rather than Americans. Because floor footage cannot be used in ads, the NRCC says it will have to be creative in its campaigns.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats largely sat in silence during the speech,following House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries\u2019s advice,though a few members protested or left the chamber.They counter that their focus is on border security and immigration reform that protects Americans, not on shooting or terrorizing communities.Republicans, including the NRCC and NRSC, pushed back with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >statements insisting democrats\u2019 stance shows<\/a> they value illegals over citizens, while Democrats and Chuck Schumer defended their approach and criticized the GOP\u2019s tone.<\/p>\n<p>The piece also notes broader campaign efforts and reactions, including social-media posts and media commentary, as both parties gear up for the 2026 electoral surroundings.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">GOP to campaign on Democrats picking illegal immigrants over Americans at State of the Union<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2515854\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>National <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican-party\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"514\">Republicans<\/a> believe they were handed an early midterm elections present during Tuesday&rsquo;s State of the Union address, when President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> baited Democrats into going on the record and opposing that the duty of the federal government is to protect U.S. citizens, not illegal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illegal-immigrants\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1972\">immigrants<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The House GOP&rsquo;s campaign arm is already betting the split-screen moment will resonate with voters and plans to use the viral moment to portray Democrats in must-win seats as out of touch. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4471849\/brandon-herrera-calls-gop-leadership-pressure-tony-gonzales-exit-texas-race-scandal\/\">Brandon Herrera calls for GOP leadership to pressure Tony Gonzales to exit Texas race after House of Cards-level scandal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4471758\/trump-state-of-the-union-wish-list-odds-congress\/\">Trump State of the Union wish <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vance-working-with-doj-and-treasury-in-war-on-fraud\/\" title=\"Vance working with DOJ and Treasury in &#039;war on fraud&#039;\">list faces long odds<\/a> in Congress<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4471768\/john-cornyn-warns-texas-primary-runoff-ken-paxton-jeopardize-gop-seat\/\">Cornyn predicts Texas primary runoff with Paxton and warns it will &#8216;jeopardize&#8217; GOP seat<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Every single vulnerable House Democrat should get comfortable re-watching the moment they revealed they&rsquo;re nothing more than America-hating scums who stayed glued to their seats while President Trump called on protecting American citizens over criminal illegal immigrants,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nrcc\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"466\">National Republican Campaign Committee<\/a> spokesperson Mike Marinella said in the statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;The ads write themselves.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Republican members of Congress stand while Democrats keep their seats during President Donald Trump&yen;s State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The NRCC is prevented by election regulations from using footage of the House floor in campaign ads. The prohibition will likely force GOP groups to get creative as they won&rsquo;t be able to use the actual clip of Trump and the seated Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday, the NRCC sent out emails and press releases targeting vulnerable Democrats on the issue, such as Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), Adam Gray (D-CA), and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) for remaining seated. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Henry Cuellar choose[s] illegals over Texans,&rdquo; one release is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nrcc.org\/2026\/02\/25\/henry-cuellar-choose-illegals-over-texans\/\">titled<\/a>. It links to a <em>New York Post <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/25\/us-news\/trump-blasts-democrats-who-refused-to-stand-for-protecting-americans-over-illegal-aliens-at-state-of-the-union-2026\/\">article<\/a> featuring Trump saying the Democrats should be &ldquo;ashamed.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nrsc\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1743\">National Republican Senatorial Committee <\/a>also reposted multiple posts on X blasting Democrats for sitting during Trump&rsquo;s speech when the president spoke about a handful of citizens who were killed by illegal immigrants.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;President Trump is right that Democrats like Jon Ossoff should be ashamed for refusing to stand up,&rdquo; NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia said in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;They made it clear to every American that their allegiance is to illegals, and it will be another reason voters reject Democrats again in 2026.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Not a single Democrat stood up last night when asked if they would put American citizens before illegals.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AshleyMoodyFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@AshleyMoodyFL<\/a> to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ScottJenningsKY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ScottJenningsKY<\/a>: &#8220;I wish I could tell you I was shocked. It appalls me. I&#8217;m devastated by that.&#8221; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Vhm4arB3ke\">pic.twitter.com\/Vhm4arB3ke<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Senate Republicans (@NRSC) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NRSC\/status\/2026728178291527814?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 25, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Trump took on a combative tone during most of his speech, calling Democrats &ldquo;crazy&rdquo; and saying they should be ashamed for failing to stand or clap during multiple instances. The president&rsquo;s goading did not get a response from a majority of the Democrats in attendance.<\/p>\n<p>Most adhered to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries&rsquo; (D-NY) recommendations to sit in &ldquo;silent defiance.&rdquo; Yet, as the president spoke for over two hours, a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4470271\/inside-chamber-state-of-the-union-trump-under-democrats-skin\/\">handful started heckling<\/a> or left the chamber altogether in protest. Some, even waived signs, such as Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA), who displayed one with the faces of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two U.S. citizens fatally shot by federal immigration officers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Last night, every single Democrat made it clear that they are once again on the wrong side of a 90-10 issue,&rdquo; RNC spokesman Zach Kraft told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;From now until Election Day, Republicans will be reminding voters that Democrats&rsquo; priority is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-first-detention-facility-for-immigrant-border-crossers-opens-critics-mock-change-in-coverage-now-that-a-democrat-is-in-office\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s First Detention Facility For Immigrant Border Crossers Opens, Critics Mock Change In Coverage Now That A Democrat Is In Office\">criminal illegal aliens<\/a>, and our priority is the American people.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Democrats are already anticipating the GOP attacks. Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"384\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) told reporters on Wednesday that &ldquo;of course&rdquo; Democrats support Americans when asked why the Democrats did not stand.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to be a prop in Donald Trump&rsquo;s little show,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Jeffries blasted Republicans for &ldquo;standing up and down like lap dogs&rdquo; during a press conference at the House Democrats&rsquo; retreat in Virginia. He added the Democratic response was &ldquo;appropriately restrained and forceful at the same period of time&rdquo; when asked about heckling or a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4471810\/michael-rulli-seeks-censure-al-green-state-union-disruption\/\">protest from Rep. Al Green<\/a> (D-TX).<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Jeffries for comment on the current and future GOP campaign attacks.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4471057\/house-democrats-ignore-hakeem-jeffries-state-union-taunts\/\"><strong>HOUSE DEMOCRATS IGNORE HAKEEM JEFFRIES&rsquo; PLEA TO SIT SILENT AT STATE OF THE UNION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dccc\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"467\">Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee<\/a> told the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>that House Democrats have been clear they want to close the border and fix a broken immigration system, &ldquo;both of which can be done without shooting American citizens on their own streets and terrorizing communities.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Republicans&rsquo; overreach in enacting their immigration enforcement has turned voters against them, as poll after poll has shown,&rdquo; DCCC Communications Director Courtney Rice said in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;Meanwhile, Trump continues to downplay and mock voters&rsquo; concerns over how expensive everything is &ndash; and Republicans refuse to say or do anything to the contrary. Their cruelty and refusal to listen to voters&rsquo; concerns will be why they lose in November.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>Ramsey Touchberry contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>GOP to cast Dems as siding with illegals over Americans at SOTU<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2573691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26056101341204.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3685,6203,69290,70100,70028],"class_list":["post-2573690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democrats","tag-gop","tag-illegal-immigration-2","tag-immigration-policy-2","tag-us-politics-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26056101341204.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2573690"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2573694,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573690\/revisions\/2573694"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2573691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2573690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2573690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2573690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}