Rep. Thanedar Completely Destroyed for Staying Seated as Donald Trump Honored Victims’ Families [WATCH]

Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., is facing criticism after remaining seated during Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress when the president honored families of children who were raped and murdered by illegal immigrants, as reported by The New York Post.

Trump renames a national wildlife refuge in Texas in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray, who loved animals.

“Alexis, I promised that we would always remember your daughter, your magnificent daughter.” pic.twitter.com/opecrcl5ft

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) March 5, 2025

Thanedar’s decision drew national attention after a heated exchange on Friday on Hannity, where host Sean Hannity confronted the congressman over his refusal to stand during the moment of recognition.

“I did not stand because the president, I was just sick of the president,” Thanedar said during the interview.

Shri Thanedar just got publicly eviscerated on Hannity…and it exposed exactly who he is.

This is the same congressman who couldn’t be bothered to call a single family after Americans like Laken Riley were murdered. No sympathy. No outrage. No action.

He voted to protect… pic.twitter.com/6Eh4FVpobb

— Bethany O’Leary (@BBMagaMom) January 17, 2026

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Hannity pushed back, responding, “You wouldn’t stand for families that lost children — a 12-year-old girl raped and murdered, and you couldn’t stand for them because you were playing politics.”

Thanedar doubled down on his stance, replying, “I would not stand for this president. He was lying.”

He further accused Trump of exploiting tragedy, claiming the president was “using a tragedy” for political purposes.

Sean obliterates Rep. Shri Thanedar on national TV:

HANNITY: You refused to stand for little girls rped and mrdered by illegal immigrants?

SHRI: I wouldn’t stand for this president.

HANNITY: Have you EVER called a victim’s family?

SHRI: I talk to my constituents—

HANNITY:… pic.twitter.com/qibgNINLnc

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) January 17, 2026

During the joint address, Trump honored several young women whom law enforcement officials say were murdered by illegal immigrants.

Among those mentioned was Jocelyn Nungaray. Many Democrats in the chamber remained seated as the families were recognized, including Jocelyn’s mother, Alexis Nungaray, who was present in the gallery.

The guy was an illegal alien convicted of first-degree sexual abuse of a child under 11.

On the flip side, Jocelyn Nungaray was just 12 when two illegal aliens strangled her to death.

But these people have more sympathy in their hearts for foreign child molesters than innocent… https://t.co/vPuIAjfUb0 pic.twitter.com/6ANgh6cyuW

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 16, 2026

Following the speech, Alexis Nungaray publicly criticized the reaction from Democratic lawmakers. Appearing on Hannity in March, she described the moment as deeply troubling.

“I found it very cowardly that a lot of the Democrats didn’t stand, didn’t clap, didn’t do anything to support anything that Donald Trump was trying to do as president to make this country better,” Nungaray said.

“It’s just very disgraceful to us as US citizens that those are the people we have here in Congress.”

During Friday’s interview, Hannity repeatedly asked Thanedar whether he had personally reached out to the families of Americans killed by illegal immigrants.

Thanedar responded by saying he speaks with his constituents “all the time” and claimed they are being “terrorized by ICE.”

The discussion also turned to Thanedar’s recent political actions, including his filing of articles of impeachment against Trump related to the deportation of suspected gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Hannity pressed the congressman on his broader immigration stance, including his calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Thanedar recently introduced legislation aimed at dismantling ICE entirely. Speaking to reporters, he said he believes “ICE is beyond reform.”

A press release from his office described the proposal as a move toward a “more humane approach to immigration policy.”

The controversy surrounding Thanedar’s comments and legislative efforts comes amid heightened scrutiny of ICE following the death of Minneapolis woman Renee Nicole Good during a confrontation with immigration agents earlier this month.

That incident has prompted renewed criticism of federal immigration enforcement from activists and Democratic leaders.

As the immigration debate intensifies, Thanedar’s refusal to stand during Trump’s address — and his subsequent remarks — have placed him at the center of a broader national dispute over border enforcement, public safety, and how elected officials respond when victims’ families are honored on the House floor.

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