Rep. Brandon Gill voiced strong support for President Trump’s call to enact what is being termed the Delilah Law, a proposed measure that would bar any state from granting commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. In a direct response to Trump’s remarks during his State of the Union address, Gill stated, “If you don’t speak English, you have no business being behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound commercial truck.”
If you don’t speak English, you have no business being behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound commercial truck.pic.twitter.com/UjVRTrl7nA
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) February 25, 2026
The comment came shortly after Trump highlighted the tragic case of Delilah Coleman during the Presidents first State of the union address of his second term. Trump described how Delilah, then five years old, was in June 2024 when an 18-wheel tractor-trailer struck her family’s stopped car at a high speed, reportedly 60 miles per hour or more. The driver, identified as an illegal alien who had entered the country under the prior administration and obtained a commercial driver’s license in California, caused severe injuries. Doctors initially indicated that Delilah would never walk, talk, or lead a normal life, and would be unable to eat independently. Yet she has made remarkable progress and is now in first grade, learning to walk again. Trump invited Delilah and her father, Marcus, to stand and be recognized, calling her an inspiration.
Trump used the incident to underscore broader concerns about road safety and immigration enforcement. He asserted that many, if not most, illegal aliens do not speak English and cannot read even basic road signs indicating direction, speed, danger, or location. Citing this as a direct risk posed by unqualified drivers operating heavy commercial vehicles, he urged Congress to pass the Delilah Law to prohibit states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to illegal aliens. The proposal aims to prevent similar tragedies by ensuring that only individuals meeting federal standards, including language proficiency for safety, can hold such credentials.
The push aligns with ongoing efforts under the Trump administration to tighten immigration-related policies affecting public safety, including prior actions that led to the revocation of thousands of commercial driver’s licenses previously issued in states like California to individuals without lawful status. Gill’s endorsement emphasizes the practical dangers of allowing non-English speakers to operate massive vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when loaded, where quick comprehension of signs and instructions is essential to avoiding accidents.
Trump’s address also placed the issue within a larger context of border security and the consequences of past open-border policies, referencing other cases of violence linked to illegal immigration and criticizing funding cuts to homeland security agencies. The Delilah Law represents one targeted reform amid these broader priorities, drawing attention to how state-level licensing decisions can intersect with federal immigration enforcement to affect American lives. As Congress considers the proposal, supporters like Gill argue it addresses a clear and immediate safety imperative tied to immigration status and basic communication abilities on the road.
