Most Democrats chose to remain seated during President Donald Trump’s nationwide address on February 24, which honored combat veterans, the grieving families of children killed by illegal aliens, and Iryna Zarutska’s mother.
Rep. Brandon Gill, a Republican from Flower Mound, stated that this “telling silence” highlights the division between the two parties. In an exclusive interview with The Dallas Express, Gill remarked that the Democrats revealed their true stance through their reaction to the address.
“You could see the contrast between the Republican vision for the country and the Democrat vision for the country, as well as some over-the-top partisanship from the left – and honestly, some really telling silence,” Gill told DX.
The State of the Union ran roughly one hour and 48 minutes — the longest on record, as The Dallas Express reported. Trump opened by declaring “our nation is back,” and closed by recognizing American service members and guests.
Democrats interrupted the speech several times, but perhaps more telling, according to Gill, was their silence.
“Republicans and the American people cheered, and Democrats sat in silence over and over and over again,” Gill said. “I think what it shows is a conflict of visions between the Republican Party and the Democrat Party.”
Gill Slams Dems’ SOTU Stonewall: They Want Iran Nukes, Open Borders, and High Inflation
Democrats failed to support Trump’s remarks about stopping Iran’s nuclear program, according to Gill.
“No Democrat stands up and cheers because they simply don’t want the United States to stop Iran’s nuclear program,” he said. “They believe Iran should have a nuclear weapon. They don’t want America to be strong on the world stage.”
They reacted similarly to Trump’s remarks about securing the border, according to Gill.
“Democrats do not want a secure border. They want illegal aliens coming into the country,” he said. “They don’t care if that means that fentanyl and murderers and rapists and gangbangers are infiltrating our communities. That’s what they want.”
Gill called Democrats’ response to the State of the Union a result of “simple, although profound, policy disagreements.”
“You saw President Trump talking about getting the economy back on track, bringing inflation down, reducing our trade deficits. The entire time the room erupted in applause, and Democrats sat in silence, fuming,” Gill said.
“They want a country where inflation is high, and the welfare state steps in to fill the American people’s needs. They want a country where America is weak on the world stage. They want a country with open borders,” he added. “That’s simply the difference in vision.”
Dems Snub American Heroes & Victims: Remain Seated
Trump opened by reviewing his administration’s work on border security, as The Dallas Express reported. He then introduced “Dalilah’s Law,” named after a five-year-old girl severely injured when an illegal alien with a commercial driver’s license plowed into her vehicle. The law would ban states from granting such licenses to illegal aliens.
Delilah and her father, Marcus, attended in the gallery, and the young girl smiled and waved to the crowd.
PASS THE DALILAH LAW.
Dalilah Coleman was only 5 when she suffered life changing injuries caused by an illegal alien driving an 18-wheeler.
What happened to Dalilah is a tragedy that could have been PREVENTED if California did not grant commercial driver’s licenses to illegal… pic.twitter.com/6LRwx1T2nS
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) February 25, 2026
Additionally, Trump called on Congress to pass the SAVE Act to require proof of citizenship to vote, and called to end sanctuary cities.
The President pointed to the murder of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, brutally stabbed to death in Charlotte, North Carolina, by a suspect with more than 14 prior arrests.
Trump called on Congress to keep repeat offenders behind bars. While Republicans and gallery members stood and applauded, most Democrats remained seated.
“How do you not stand?” Trump asked at the time.
HOW DO YOU NOT STAND?🤔
President Trump shamed Democrats for refusing to stand for Anna Zarutska, the mother of the poor Ukrainian refugee who was killed by an illegal alien.
"How do you not stand? How do you not stand?" pic.twitter.com/gGaVT4Fo7s
— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 25, 2026
Imagine refusing to stand for:
– Americans over illegals
– Voter ID
– Lowest murder rate in 125 years
– Ending fraud & waste
– Angel families
– Tough-on-crime policies
– No tax on tips, overtime, or Social Security
– Crushing fentanyl
– A Secure borderThat’s exactly what… pic.twitter.com/E5nD9mAWnk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 25, 2026
The U.S. Men’s Hockey Team also appeared in the gallery, prompting applause and chants of “U.S.A.” after their Olympic gold-medal victory over Canada.
Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to multiple veterans, including a 100-year-old veteran, Navy Capt. Royce Williams for his actions in the Korean War, and Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover for his actions in the raid to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump and First Lady Melania award 100-YEAR-OLD Veteran Navy fighter pilot Royce Williams with the MEDAL OF HONOR
He completed one of the greatest feats in aviation history against the Soviets!
"His story was secret for 50 years. But tonight, at 100 years… pic.twitter.com/0qDDiei4Sp
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) February 25, 2026
From Heroes to Hope: Gill Says Trump’s SOTU Captured American Spirit
Gill said the energy on the U.S. House floor was palpable.
“On the Republican side, you could feel almost tangibly that we are back. The country is back. We’re strong again. Our economy is going in the right direction. We are reasserting American sovereignty. We’re reasserting American strength,” Gill said. “There was optimism for the country’s future.”
“On the Democrat side, all you could see was really just blind resistance to anything the President was saying,” Gill added.
The Dallas Express asked Gill which policies from the speech he thought were most relevant to North Texas. He said one of the most overlooked policies is the Trump Accounts, which offer a $1,000 investment account for every child. As The Dallas Express reported, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promoted the accounts in Addison on February 20.
“That was one of the most underrated parts of the tax bill that we passed last summer,” Gill said. “These are accounts that will give young children a tangible stake in America’s future as they get older.”
Overall, Gill said the address inspired Republicans and Americans at large.
“Every Republican I have talked to said that was the greatest State of the Union we’ve ever heard,” Gill said.
Trump “was able to really inspire the Republican conference, and really inspire the American people by highlighting true, historic American heroes – whether it be World War II fighters, or the men’s hockey team, or victims of illegal alien murders. People who really capture the core, in many ways, of the American spirit,” Gill told DX.
