Democrats, Trump trade jabs during fiery SOTU moment: "Liar" - Newsweek

During President Trump's 2026 State of the Union address, tensions arose as Democratic members, including Ilhan Omar, interrupted him with accusations of lying regarding immigration and fraud claims. The speech highlighted deep partisan divisions over immigration policies and election integrity, with Trump criticizing Democrats for not supporting measures to strengthen border security and voter verification. The address also prompted calls for continued legislative action on immigration enforcement and funding negotiations for the Department of Homeland Security.

President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union (SOTU) turned tense Tuesday as progressive Democrats interrupted his remarks on immigration and alleged fraud in Minnesota’s Somali American community, with Democratic Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar shouting, “That’s a lie! You’re a liar!” from the House chamber.

The confrontation followed a sequence in which Trump asked lawmakers to stand if they agreed that “the first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,” a line that drew standing support from Republicans but not most Democrats, video showed.

Multiple calls of lies were heard from the chamber during the president's address.

Why It Matters

The floor exchange underscored the deep partisan divide over immigration, election integrity measures and rhetoric on immigrant communities as Congress faces unresolved funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and renewed debates over sanctuary policies.

Trump framed his remarks as part of a broader “war on fraud,” tapping Vice President JD Vance to lead the effort and linking the push to his call for the SAVE America Act, which would impose new voter identification and citizenship requirements—proposals Democrats have criticized as restricting access.

Dems Call Trump 'Liar:' What To Know

As Trump discussed immigration enforcement and alleged fraud—including claims involving Minnesota’s Somali American community—Omar interjected, “That’s a lie! You’re a liar!” while some Democrats later shouted, “You’re killing Americans!” during applause for the president’s immigration policies.

Images from the address show Omar and Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan were among Democrats who interjected during the president’s remarks about undocumented immigrants.

Democratic California Representative Norma Torres was also seen displaying a placard referencing Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed during immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis earlier this year, CBS News reported.

President Trump Calls Out Dems for Not Standing

Earlier in the address, Trump asked members of Congress to stand if they agreed that the government’s first duty is to protect “American citizens, not those in the country illegally,” which drew support from Republicans as most Democrats remained seated.

He told those who did not stand, which included Omar, along with Tlaib and Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, that they should be “ashamed.”

“One of the great things about the State of the Union is how it gives Americans the chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe … The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” He later added, “Isn’t that a shame? You should be ashamed of yourself not standing up.”

Trump also said he was asking Congress to “end deadly sanctuary cities that protect the criminals” and urged it to pass the SAVE America Act, which he said would require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and photo identification to vote, asserting that “cheating is rampant,” according to CBS News’ account of the speech.

What People Are Saying

Trump, during the State of the Union: “One of the great things about the State of the Union is how it gives Americans the chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe…The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

Omar, shouting from the chamber as Trump discussed alleged fraud in Somali American communities: “That’s a lie! You’re a liar!”

What Happens Next

The Republican-led House is expected to continue advancing measures aligned with the SAVE America Act’s voter identification and citizenship verification provisions, while the Senate has signaled resistance, making near-term passage unlikely, according to CBS News.

Separately, funding negotiations over DHS remained unresolved as of the address, with Trump demanding restoration of the department's funding and Democrats seeking immigration enforcement reform—talks that will shape policy in the coming days.

Update 2/24/26, 10:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with more information.