No, Trump did not set a trap for Democrats with his false dilemma

During his State of the Union speech, President Trump offered something logicians call a "false dilemma," defined as "an informal fallacy based on a premise that erroneously limits what options are available." Here's what he said:

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.

Conservatives often use a false dilemma to make their point (ie, "America, love it or leave it" and "You're either with us or against us") because it reduces complex issues to simple either/or options and allows them to demonize those who disagree with them.

Because Democrats refused Trump's premise and remained seated, the White House and MAGA influencers claimed that the president set a trap and Democrats walked right into it. If dumbing down our politics is the goal, I suspect they have a point. But it is pretty easily refuted.

First of all, we need to ask a few questions about how the Trump administration is demonstrating that their first duty is to protect American citizens. What about Renee Good and Alex Pretti - American citizens that were murdered by ICE agents? How about the hundreds of American citizens who have been illegally detained by ICE? Just one example would be ChongLy "Scott" Thao.

ICE agents illegally broke into his house and dragged him outside in below zero temperatures in his underwear and slippers - only to release him hours later AFTER they reviewed his papers. 

Back in October 2025, ProPublica documented that more than 170 U.S. citizens had been detained by ICE. That number is much higher after the Metro Surge operation in Minnesota. 

So that's how the Trump administration demonstrates its duty to protect American citizens...murder them and/or lock them up.

Democrats want to ensure the safety of American citizens - especially when it comes to upholding the rights established by our Constitution. We also want a few things when it comes to the people Trump calls "illegal aliens?" I'd offer this list:

• Stop lying about immigrants being garbage and criminals 
• Provide due process and judicial warrants to enter private property (this is actually a protection for everyone - including U.S. citizens)
• Follow the law for those who are came here legally (ie, TPS, DACA, those with valid asylum claims, etc.)
• Stop racial profiling (another protection for everyone - including U.S. citizens)
• End arbitrary quotas for the number of people deported
• Stop rendition to prisons in other countries
• Stop lying about deporting the "worst of the worst" and actually make it a focus
• Affirm the constitutionality of birthright citizenship
• Allow a pathway to citizenship for those who have been contributing members of their community for years

As I've said before, Democrats have NEVER favored open borders via rhetoric or policy. We are in favor of protecting American citizens AND establishing a humane immigration system. There's nothing radical about that. The problem is that Trump and his MAGA enablers refuse to engage with us on these issues based on truth, the rule of law, and our Constitution.