As RedState documented, Democrats put on a predictably disgraceful performance during President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday night, remaining seated during moments where there should have been standing unity in the room, and awkwardly applauding at other times.
Perhaps the most notable among the instances where Democrats refused to stand in the chamber came when Trump made the following statement:
"Tonight, I'm inviting every legislator to join with my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens," he stated.
Not a single Democrat stood. Trump made sure to loudly point that out, too. "You should be ashamed of yourself for not standing up," Trump said, looking directly at the Congressional Democrats in attendance after repeatedly pointing at what they were and were not doing. "You should be ashamed of yourself."
READ MORE: The Trump SOTU Moment That Could Win Republicans the Midterms
Another Hall of Shame moment for Democrats came when Trump revisited, in graphic detail, the brutal murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was stabbed to death in August 2025 after hopping on the Charlotte light rail system on her way home from a shift at a local pizzeria. Her alleged killer, 34-year-old DeCarlos Brown, Jr., was a violent repeat offender under former Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper's watch.
Zarutska's mother, Anna, was in attendance and stood through tears after Trump vowed to obtain justice on Iryna's behalf. But Democrats didn't (note: Trump suggested Brown was an illegal immigrant - he wasn't, but the alleged perp in another light rail stabbing a few months later, where the victim survived, was):
Iryna Zarutska was murdered by a violent career criminal in cold blood.
— Sarah Gallagher (@sgallz_) February 25, 2026
Democrats refused to stand for her or her mother tonight who was in attendance.
This is so much more than politics — it’s basic human decency. pic.twitter.com/7yxWX26ar3
Imagine wearing a Ukrainian Flag pin and your entire Democrat Party won’t stand up for Iryna who was murdered in cold blood. https://t.co/MEQHUz10QX pic.twitter.com/mvEtQfYdSf
— Tyler Bowyer (@tylerbowyer) February 25, 2026
Basic human decency also means not just standing out of respect in memory of someone who was senselessly murdered, but standing up for them when it matters most - before they become victims... so they don't become victims in the first place.
That's something soft-on-crime Cooper, the presumptive Democrat nominee in the NC Senate race, didn't do during his eight years as North Carolina's governor, and Zarutska - and other victims of repeat offenders in this state - paid the ultimate price for it.
SEE ALSO: Michael Whatley Drops Receipts on Roy Cooper As Fatal Stabbing Becomes Focal Point in NC Senate Race
Former RNC chairman Michael Whatley, the presumptive GOP nominee in the race, made sure to point that out in a powerful new ad released after Trump's SOTU remarks on Zarutska's case. Whatley laid out the facts about Cooper's tenure as governor as it relates to crime, suggesting Zarutska's murder was entirely avoidable. "Roy Cooper has Iryna Zarutska’s blood on his hands," Whatley observed.
Portions from the video of Zartuska's killing were used in Whatley's ad. Some viewers may find it difficult to watch, so please be advised:
Thank you, President Trump, for fighting for safer communities.
— Michael Whatley (@WhatleyNC) February 25, 2026
As he said in the State of the Union, Iryna’s life was stolen by a violent criminal who should never have been on our streets — a heartbreaking reminder of why protecting families must come first.
Roy Cooper has… pic.twitter.com/jEgOgG9C57
President Trump calls on Congress to pass legislation to ensure that violent, dangerous repeat offenders are put behind bars—and stay there.
— Whatley War Room (@whatleywarroom) February 25, 2026
If Roy Cooper went to Washington he would vote against this. pic.twitter.com/ZKLiHWyPuA
The NRSC also came out swinging:
— Senate Republicans (@NRSC) February 25, 2026
Something important to note here is that in going after Cooper's record on crime, Whatley is directly attacking what the Cooper campaign sees as one of his biggest strengths. Cooper was attorney general in the state for 16 years before he was elected governor, and has routinely tried to tout his record of "putting criminals behind bars" while on the campaign trail in previous election cycles.
But Whatley has been steadily chipping away at that false narrative bit by bit since their respective Senate campaigns began in earnest in the fall of 2025, so by the time the Senate debates roll around, North Carolina voters should be more than familiar - and deeply concerned - with Cooper's less-than-stellar track record, and the fact that he's been so dishonest about it.
Editor's Note: With President Trump back in the White House, the state of our Union is strong once again.
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