State of Union criticized by Southwest Dems, praised by GOP

By Chris Woodward
The Center Square

Members of Congress from the Southwest reacted along party lines to this year’s State of the Union.

President Donald Trump spent much of his Tuesday night speech talking about the economy, immigration, Iran, voter ID and crime. According to the president, America is safer today than it was when Joe Biden was in office.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, disagreed with Trump’s comments on various issues before the joint session of Congress.

“At the State of the Union, President Trump once again tried to convince us that what we have seen with our own eyes is not the truth,” Bennet told The Center Square Wednesday. “Coloradans have witnessed the reality: American citizens shot and killed in U.S. cities, families living in fear and struggling to afford health care and groceries, and small businesses fighting for survival under the weight of Trump’s tariffs.”

As a result, Bennet said that he will continue to fight for truth and protect Colorado communities suffering under Trump’s “lawlessness.”

U.S. Rep Judy Chu, D-California, said on X that the State of the Union is meant to be unifying, not divisive.

“His speech was a disgraceful partisan spectacle, full of lies and non-stop attacks on his political enemies,” said Chu, whose district includes Pasadena.

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, disagreed with Trump’s statements that Americans are better off today than before he re-entered office. In a post on X, Rosen said life got more expensive for Nevada families during Trump’s first year back.

“Trump has weakened the state of our Union, and Nevadans need to hear him outline a real plan to actually address the affordability crisis,” said Rosen.

Some Democrats skipped the event, including U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona.

Gallego instead went to an alternate event known as The People’s State Of The Union.

“Trump has made us sicker, poorer and less secure,” said Gallego in a speech at the alternate event.

Arizona’s other U.S. senator – Mark Kelly – attended the president’s State of the Union. While the Democrat said in a press release that “Donald Trump mentioned a few things I agreed with, banning stock trading in Congress and stopping hedge funds from buying single-family homes,” Kelly criticized Trump for “handing a giant tax cut to rich people.”

U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Arizona, liked the address, especially the moments where Trump recognized military service members.

“As a member of the Armed Services committee in the U.S. House, I fought for E. Royce Williams to receive the Medal of Honor, so that was a particular highlight for me,” Hamadeh told The Center Square Wednesday.

Williams, a 100-year-old South Dakota native who lives today in San Diego, was honored for his actions as a Korean War fighter pilot.

As Hamadeh described it, the president’s speech focused on America’s victories and celebrated greatness and true heroism.

“From a mom waiting tables to some of the greatest athletes on earth, to warriors recovering from service to our country, American greatness was on full display and celebrated,” said Hamadeh.

Trump asked lawmakers to stand if they agreed government should protect Americans before illegal aliens. Democrats didn’t stand, and Hamadeh said it will be long time, if ever, that Democrats will recover from that fact.

“I make every effort to work in a bipartisan way, but last night the Democrats made it very clear why that is almost impossible,” said Hamadeh. “I have to agree with President Trump. Most of them are crazy.”

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Arizona, considered the State of the Union to be an incredible speech.

“The best ever,” said Biggs while shaking hands with Trump after the address ended.