Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., called a challenge from President Donald Trump at the 2026 State of the Union “racist” when he asked listeners to stand if they agreed the U.S. should prioritize the safety of its own citizens over illegal aliens.

“If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support,” Trump said.

“The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”

Democrats remained seated for over a minute and a half as the Republican side of the chamber burst into prolonged applause.

After the address, Bynum, who is on the National Republican Congressional Committee’s list of vulnerable Dem incumbents, said the moment made her uneasy.

“I think you can agree with the ‘what’ — like standing up for American citizens,” Bynum said. “But I disagree with the ‘how.’”

“There’s thinly veiled racist language, anti-immigrant language in what he was asking, and that was uncomfortable,” Bynum said.

Bynum’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how Trump’s challenge had asked lawmakers to discriminate on the basis of race. 

TRUMP SHAMES DEMOCRATS IN VIRAL STATE OF THE UNION CHALLENGE ON MIGRANT CRIME: ‘FIRST DUTY’

Trump’s remarks to Democrats on Tuesday came as a partial government shutdown drags on over demands Democrats have made to reform the agency at the heart of Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Democrats are demanding a set of 10 enforcement reforms for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and won’t vote to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until Republicans meet their demands.

DHS, which oversees ICE, went into a shutdown on Feb. 14.

DHS SHUTDOWN DRAGS INTO WEEK TWO AS IRAN THREAT, SOTU CLASH COMPLICATE HILL TALKS

Among other changes, Democrats are looking for a ban on masks, an end to roaming patrols, visible identification and stiffer warrant requirements for arresting illegal aliens in public.

Republicans have dismissed those demands, arguing that Democrats must first pass legislation to restrict “sanctuary cities” — local communities that have instructed their law enforcement not to cooperate with federal agents on immigration apprehensions and deportations.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

In a press release after the State of the Union, Bynum, who voted against DHS earlier this year, listed Trump’s framing of his immigration crackdown among her many critiques of the address.

“Tonight, I watched President Trump spend the majority of his speech lying about the state of our economy, demonizing immigrants and spewing more of the same divisive BS. I can’t say I’m surprised,” she wrote.

Related Article

Over 32.6 million viewers watched President Trump address the nation on Tuesday night, according to Nielsen data.

It’s both the smallest audience Trump has received for the annual speech to a joint session of Congress, and the longest State of the Union address in recent history.

This was the president’s first State of the Union address of his second term. Previously, his addresses scored 45.5 million in 2018, 46.8 million in 2019 and 37.1 million in 2020, the Nielsen data show.

This year’s speech clocked in at 107 minutes, topping the record set by President Clinton in 2000.

Facing low approval ratings, Trump played up positive economic numbers, some of which were misstated, and the administration’s aggressive crackdown on undocumented immigrants, drawing polarized reactions in the chamber.

Trump also recognized the Men’s Olympic hockey team, which won its first gold medal since 1980 on Sunday with its victory against Canada, and a number of other guests attended the address, including the widow of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk and Paramount Skydance’s CEO David Ellison.

There were 15 networks that televised the speech. Fox News had the largest audience with 9.1 million viewers. ABC was second with 5.1 million, followed by NBC‘s 3.6 million, CBS’ 3.3 million, MS NOW’s 2.4 million, CNN’s 2.2 million, and the Fox broadcast network’s 2.1 million.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is taking emergency measures amid a partial DHS shutdown that dragged on for another week, as a top lawmaker who oversees transportation warned of potential economic fallout at airports.

While Democrats have held up funding for DHS, their intended target — ICE — remains resourced due to a $75 billion infusion from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.

Over the weekend, several reports claimed DHS was prepared to pause TSA PreCheck — the program that allows qualified frequent fliers a speedier pass through security.

But a TSA spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that PreCheck remains “operational with no change for the traveling public.”

“As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly,” the spokesperson said.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also told CNN on Wednesday that one contingency could arise in which unpaid TSA officers may need to find alternative employment to provide for their families.

At that point, “we’ll have to prioritize where the most travelers go through their security checkpoints,” she said.

So far, there have been no noticeable flight delays due to the TSA shutdown.

As of now, the main TSA program suspended is that of “courtesy escorts” for dignitaries, including members of Congress. Escorts have been paused to “allow officers to focus on the mission of securing America’s skies,” a TSA spokesperson said.

WHY KEEPING LAWMAKERS IN DC DURING SHUTDOWN MAY HAVE CAUSED MORE HARM THAN GOOD

“Until funding is restored, all travelers should expect a process that does not sacrifice security,” the agency said in a statement.

However, the top lawmaker on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation told Fox News Digital that the program does not appear to be universally in place, noting he either goes through TSA security like other travelers or occasionally gets assistance from the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office when flying to Washington.

“I personally haven’t seen too much of a slowdown because they are essential personnel and they’re gonna be working,” Chairman Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital in an interview Wednesday.

“The problem is, those folks — they need their paychecks. And so, we’re making them work without a paycheck and that’s just not right,” he said, adding that he plans to ask DHS about long-term contingencies if the shutdown drags on.

“If somehow this is going to be affecting service in any way, I would expect more people not to be showing up to work, but again, I haven’t had direct reports from TSA telling me that travel has been disrupted.”

Gimenez said that for a district like his — South Dade and the Florida Keys — air travel is inextricably tied to its economy. It is served by two airports: the major international hub of MIA and the much smaller, tourism-powered EYW.

NOEM SLAMS DEMS BLOCKING DHS FUNDING BILL CITING TSA, FEMA, COAST GUARD: ‘I HOPE THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES’

“Obviously, in Miami, a lot of people know who I am, and a lot of those agents know who I am, and they’ve acted very professionally,” he said when asked if he has heard directly from constituents or agents about the shutdown.

A source familiar with the situation also said Miami International Airport is the city’s top employer and the region’s leading economic generator.

Gimenez agreed, adding that when MIA faces any adversities, it ripples into the surrounding area.

“The longer this goes on, I would think you’re going to see some travel disruptions due to TSA, due to, you know, those folks that aren’t getting paid – and [then onto] hotels, and it’ll affect everything. It affects everything.”

Fox News Digital reached out to ranking member LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., for her take on the situation.

McIver’s district notably encompasses another major international hub: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Noem said the current situation is the third time Democrats have forced a shutdown of her agency during the 119th Congress.

“Shutdowns have real-world consequences, not just for the men and women of DHS and their families who go without a paycheck, but they endanger our national security,” she said.

“The American people depend on this department every day, and we are making tough but necessary workforce and resource decisions to mitigate the damage inflicted by these politicians. TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts.”

Noem further warned that FEMA — another affected agency — must brace for yet another nor’easter and will halt all non-disaster-related response efforts while its resources are tied up.

Global Entry, a Customs and Border Protection-facilitated program at airports receiving international flights, will be halted.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The program, seen as the traveler’s version of TSA PreCheck for international arrivals, will have officers reassigned to assist other arriving passengers.

“CBP will also be suspending requests for port courtesies for members of Congress at all ports of entry to include escorts and tours in order for personnel to be reassigned to essential border security operations,” the agency said.

Related Article