After State Of The Union, Democrats Say Trump Did 'what He Does Best: Lie'

The United States, President Trump said Tuesday night, is “bigger, better, richer and stronger than ever.”

“We are nan hottest state anyplace successful nan world,” Trump said successful his State of nan Union address. “The system is roaring for illustration ne'er before. America is respected again for illustration ne'er before. We’re winning truthful overmuch we can’t return it.”

Not so, countered U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).

“We conscionable heard Donald Trump do what he does best: lie,” Padilla said.

In a Spanish-language rebuttal delivered connected behalf of nan Democratic Party, Padilla rebuked nan president’s declare that he has brought astir nan “golden property of America,” accusing Trump of spurring economical uncertainty and plunging U.S. cities into violence.

President Trump gives his State of nan Union reside to a associated convention of Congress, astatine nan Capitol successful Washington.

(J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

“The truth is that nan State of our Union does not consciousness beardown for everyone,” Padilla said. “Not erstwhile nan costs of rent, food, and energy support rising. Not erstwhile Republicans raise our aesculapian costs to money taxation cuts for billionaires. And decidedly not erstwhile national agents — equipped and masked — terrorize our communities by targeting group because of nan colour of their tegument aliases for speaking Spanish — including immigrants pinch ineligible position and citizens.”

Padilla and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who delivered nan Democratic rebuttal successful English, countered Trump’s upbeat pronouncements by coating a starkly different image of a state that is profoundly divided months earlier captious midterm legislature elections.

Trump, whose support ratings person slumped amid concerns astir nan system and nan harsh strategies deployed successful his mass-deportation campaign, touted what he described arsenic victories connected overseas policy, including nan U.S. ouster of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, and a slowing of inflation.

Padilla sought to antagonistic those claims and rally support for Democrats, who person struggled to formulate an effective consequence to Trump, who has dominated nationalist sermon successful caller year.

Spanberger, speaking from Colonial Williamburg successful Virginia, questioned whether Trump is moving connected behalf of Americans — aliases successful his ain self-interest.

Trump, she said, has many times sought to deflect attraction distant from accusations that he is utilizing nan Oval Office to enrich himself and his family and nan ungraded involving Jeffrey Epstein, nan disgraced financier and activity offender.

“We did not perceive nan truth from our president,” Spanberger said. “He lied, he scapegoated and he distracted.”

Spanberger, who hit her Republican force successful nan purple authorities of Virginia past autumn by 15 points, said voters are struggling nether Trump’s policies and are opening to move connected him. Political winds, she said, are shifting successful favour of nan Democrats.

Padilla focused heavy connected nan Trump administration’s migration crackdown successful cities specified arsenic Los Angeles and Minneapolis, wherever agents this twelvemonth killed 2 U.S. citizens who were protesting deportations.

“We spot ICE agents utilizing excessive force: entering homes without judicial warrants and shooting astatine cars pinch families still inside,” Padilla said. “We are surviving a nightmare that divides and destroys our communities.”

He was, he said, partially speaking from experience.

Last year, national agents tackled Padilla to nan crushed and handcuffed him aft he sought to mobility Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem astatine a news convention successful Los Angeles.

Padilla referenced nan incident successful his speech, and encouraged others to defy Trump.

“I americium still present standing. Still fighting,” he said. “And I cognize you are still opinionated and still fighting too.”

“Trump does not want america to admit our power,” he said.

Padilla besides slipped successful a reference to Puerto Rican popular prima Bad Bunny, who was criticized by Trump for performing successful Spanish during nan halftime of nan Super Bowl.

“As Bad Bunny reminded america a fewer weeks ago: ‘Together, we are America.’” Padilla said. “Together, we rise, because our religion is stronger than immoderate disappointment aliases immoderate obstacle — including Trump. And together, we will build nan early our children deserve.”