In his first State of the Union address, President Donald Trump called on Republicans and Democrats to set aside their differences and unite on behalf of the American people.
"Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve," Trump said.
The Democrats were uninterested, refusing to stand as President Trump recounted many of the past year's achievements for the American people.
Democrats sit and do not clap when Trump says how proud he is of how Blacks and Hispanics are thriving under his ad… https://t.co/os04dUG8g2— Ryan Saavedra (@Ryan Saavedra)1517365302.0
Democrats sit for rising wages You can't make this stuff up #SOTU— Charlie Kirk (@Charlie Kirk)1517365160.0
"We proudly stand for the national anthem!" And Democrats sit.— Ben Shapiro (@Ben Shapiro)1517365984.0
"Terminal patients should be able to try life-saving treatments!" And Democrats sit.— Ben Shapiro (@Ben Shapiro)1517366489.0
Trump recognizes African-American family who had family members murdered by illegal alien gang members. #SOTU Many… https://t.co/p1CUAOq0Qa— Ryan Saavedra (@Ryan Saavedra)1517367145.0
At one point, as President Trump criticized open borders policies that "have allowed drugs and gangs to pour into our most vulnerable communities" and have "caused the loss of many innocent lives," the Democrats started to boo. They were cut off as the president continued, pointing to his guests in the gallery.
"Here tonight are two mothers and two fathers:Â Evelyn Rodriguez, Freddy Cuevas, Elizabeth Alvarado, and Robert Mickens," Trump said.
"Their two teenage daughters — Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens — were close friends on Long Island. But in September 2016, on the eve of Nisa's 16th Birthday, such a happy time it should have been, neither of them came home. These two precious girls were brutally murdered while walking together in their hometown. Six members of the savage MS-13 gang have been charged with Kayla and Nisa's murders. Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes in our laws to enter the country as unaccompanied illegal unaccompanied alien minors — and wound up in Kayla and Nisa's high school."
"Evelyn, Elizabeth, Freddy, and Robert:Â Tonight, everyone in this chamber is praying for you," Trump said. "Everyone in America is grieving for you."
And yet:
Dems boo when Trump points out illegal aliens who commit crime, then quickly stop when he points to the family of t… https://t.co/VlDWgqU9aC— Katie Pavlich (@Katie Pavlich)1517366990.0
Entire row of Democrats refusing to stand for family whose two girls were murdered by MS-13 #SOTU— Katie Pavlich (@Katie Pavlich)1517367043.0
Trump recognizes African-American family who had family members murdered by illegal alien gang members. #SOTU Many… https://t.co/p1CUAOq0Qa— Ryan Saavedra (@Ryan Saavedra)1517367145.0
Here's video. Listen for the groans at the 1:11 time mark:
The president continued as they remained seated.
"So tonight, I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties — Democrats and Republicans — to protect our citizens of every background, color, religion, and creed," he said. "My duty, and the sacred duty of every elected official in this chamber, is to defend Americans — to protect their safety, their families, their communities, and their right to the American Dream. Because Americans are dreamers too."
The Democratic Party is blinded by their hatred of President Trump. So hateful are they that they refuse to stand for American citizens, the victims of our unsecured border.
It's shameful, really.
