Trump: I don't know how much longer I'll be among you

U.S. President Donald Trump hosted an event at the White House honoring the victims of violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants. The event hosted families whose loved ones were killed by illegal immigrants. Trump invited the victims' relatives to the podium to speak during the program. Among the victims' relatives speaking at the program was Allyson Phillips, the mother of nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed by an illegal immigrant in 2024. Riley's mother, who was killed while out for a run on the University of Georgia campus and whose death became a symbolic case that brought immigration and border security debates in the U.S. to the forefront, said, "This could have happened to any family. It happened to my family. It could have happened to any of your families."

Addressing the victims' relatives at the event, Trump said, "Everyone in this room has not only experienced an endless loss. These people have also been victims of politicians who put the comfort of foreign criminals ahead of the safety of American citizens and patriots."

Trump, who heavily criticized Democrats over their crime-fighting and immigration policies, said, "I don't know why this topic isn't in the news. The Democrats don't want to hear this. The radical left doesn't want to hear this. So what is it that shouldn't be heard? We want to prevent murderers and criminals from entering our country. I watched the Mayor of Minneapolis. I watched these people who say, 'We want to protect murderers.' I can't make sense of it. This is something sick. These people are sick."

In his speech, stating that they have achieved tremendous results regarding border security, Trump made a reference to American presidents who were targets of armed assassinations because they were successful. Trump said, "All those deranged armed attackers only go after presidents who get results. They don't go after presidents who don't get results. Abraham Lincoln, a great name. John F. Kennedy was also a president who had achieved results in a certain sense. They only go after presidents who get results. Maybe I should want to be someone who gets a little less results. Can we slow this process down a little?"

Trump stated, "I don't know how much longer I'll be among you; there are many people pointing their guns at me, aren't there?"

Trump, who will deliver the first "State of the Union" address of his second term tomorrow, also touched on this topic in his White House address, saying, "Our country is in great shape right now. The economy is in its strongest state ever and at the highest level of activity. I will give a speech tomorrow evening. It will be a long speech, because we have so many topics to talk about."

"National Family Day" declared in the U.S.

During the program, Trump also signed a proclamation declaring February 22, 2026, as "National Family Day." The proclamation stated, "A nation without strong borders is not a nation in the true sense. Without justice, a people can never be truly free. We reaffirm our duty to uphold the rule of law, secure our borders, and ensure accountability for every American killed by illegal immigrants and for every family forced to endure an unimaginable loss."

The proclamation stated, "We will never forget the victims. We stand with the families who have to live with a permanent void in their lives, and we will never stop fighting to protect our people and our homeland."

The proclamation included the words, "As President of the United States Donald J. Trump, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, I hereby proclaim February 22, 2026, as National Family Day."