Democrats have spent years insisting that they—and only they—represent the true, virtuous spirit of American democracy. But this weekend in Mexico City, several of the party’s most outspoken progressives appeared at an international summit where the dominant theme was not support for the United States, but contempt for it.
And no remark captured that hostility more clearly than the one delivered by Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), who proudly announced:
“I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American.”
The statement—delivered in Spanish to loud applause—wasn’t some off-hand quip. It was part of a speech steeped in ideological framing that painted the United States as the villain of the Western Hemisphere. Ramirez, whose parents immigrated legally from Guatemala, represents a heavily Democratic district in Chicago. Yet her comments sounded closer to a radical activist speaking abroad than a sitting U.S. congresswoman entrusted with shaping American law.
A Sitting Member of Congress Denounces the Country She Serves
Ramirez went on to describe the United States as:
- “Addicted to war”
- Motivated by “imperialism, militarization, conquest, control, and competition”
- A nation that “pursues dominance above all else”
If this language sounds familiar, it’s because it mirrors the rhetoric of far-left academic circles and anti-American foreign governments—not mainstream political discourse in the U.S.
What makes her remarks even more stunning is that they were delivered on foreign soil, at a summit openly hostile toward American influence. It was the kind of speech that decades ago would have ended a political career overnight—yet in today’s Democratic Party, it barely registers as controversial.
A Summit Built on Anti-Capitalist, Anti-American Foundations
The event Ramirez attended was not a neutral policy conference. It was organized by:
- Progressive International, a far-left global activist network whose leaders refer to capitalism as a “virus” that must be “eradicated,”
and - Morena, the ruling leftist party in Mexico—well known for its anti-U.S. positioning and ideological alignment with socialist movements in Latin America.
The summit’s website used soft language like “solidarity,” “multilateralism,” and “equality,” but that PR coating did not reflect the real agenda.
David Adler, the founder and general coordinator of Progressive International, said openly in a televised interview that the purpose of the gathering was to “confront the fascist and authoritarian movements across the Americas.”
We’ve heard this line before. In progressive circles, “fascism” has become shorthand for:
- Conservatism
- Patriotism
- Border security
- Enforcement of immigration laws
- Opposition to socialism
In other words, anyone who disagrees with them.
Ramirez’s ‘Mixed-Status Marriage’ Becomes Part of the Story
According to Ramirez’s own official biography, her husband does not have legal status in the United States. She has publicly branded herself as the only member of Congress in a “mixed-status marriage.”
That detail raised eyebrows in Washington long before this summit. But her comment in Mexico—explicitly placing a foreign national identity above her American one—has kicked off a new round of questions about potential conflicts of interest.
How should a lawmaker whose spouse is vulnerable to immigration enforcement vote on bills involving:
- Border security
- Deportations
- Sanctuary policies
- Eligibility rules
- Visa regulations
Her remarks in Mexico City only heighten those concerns.
Democrats Abroad: A Pattern of Contempt for American Institutions
Ramirez wasn’t alone. Other Democratic attendees also used the summit as an opportunity to bash the United States on foreign soil.
This follows a growing trend:
- In 2024 and 2025, several progressive lawmakers traveled to Latin America for conferences criticizing U.S. capitalism, policing, and foreign policy.
- Members of “The Squad” have increasingly framed America as a fundamentally oppressive nation.
- Some Democrats have advocated for replacing American sovereignty with “hemispheric governance frameworks.”
The idea that an elected U.S. official would declare loyalty to another nation first would have been unthinkable in prior generations. Today, it fits comfortably within the party’s activist base.
Imagine If a Republican Said the Same Thing Abroad
Consider the reverse scenario.
If a Republican congressman traveled to Warsaw or Rome and said:
“I am a proud Italian before I am an American.”
The media firestorm would be immediate:
- The New York Times would publish three front-page editorials
- CNN would run wall-to-wall panels on “dual loyalty”
- Democrats would demand censure
- Activists would accuse the lawmaker of extremism or even sedition
But when a Democrat makes the same declaration—at an anti-American summit—the response is silence or praise within her party.
Ramirez’s America: A Country to Criticize, Not Represent
In her speech, Ramirez painted a picture of the U.S. as a global oppressor responsible for the suffering of migrants, Latin American instability, and hemispheric inequality. At no point did she acknowledge:
- The billions in foreign aid the U.S. provides annually
- The vast number of immigrants who voluntarily choose America
- The role of cartels, corruption, or foreign governments in causing migration
- The freedoms and economic opportunities immigrants gain in the U.S.
Her worldview appears to treat America not as a flawed but aspirational nation, but as a fundamentally malign actor.
The Real Purpose of the Summit: Building a Transnational Left Alliance
Progressive International has made no secret of its goals:
- Weaken U.S. influence
- Build alliances among socialist governments
- Erase borders in favor of “hemispheric solidarity”
- Push global wealth redistribution
- Undermine Western capitalism
- Amplify anti-American activism worldwide
Ramirez’s presence—and her headline-making identity declaration—served that agenda perfectly.
Both she and the organizers knew the significance of a sitting U.S. congresswoman publicly renouncing American identity hierarchy.
Political Fallout at Home
Republicans are already responding.
Several GOP lawmakers blasted Ramirez’s remarks, saying they raise serious questions about her oath of office:
“You cannot swear to defend the Constitution of the United States while claiming loyalty to another nation first,” one Republican member said privately.
Others are calling for an ethics review, though Democrats control the committee.
Still, the issue is likely to resonate strongly with voters as immigration continues to top national polling.
The Bigger Picture: A Split Within the Democratic Party
The controversy points to a deeper ideological fracture within the Democratic Party:
- Traditional Democrats still argue that America is fundamentally good and must be improved from within.
- Progressives increasingly frame the United States as unjust, oppressive, and in need of systemic restructuring—sometimes from outside influences.
Ramirez’s comment did not create this split, but it illustrated it vividly.
Conclusion: A Remark With Lasting Implications
Rep. Delia Ramirez’s declaration—“I’m a proud Guatemalan before I’m an American”—wasn’t just a slip of the tongue. It was a political statement, delivered intentionally, at an international summit aimed at undermining U.S. influence.
For many Americans, it will raise a simple but profound question:
How can someone place another nation first while serving in the Congress of the United States?
As global tensions rise, borders are tested, and national identity becomes increasingly central to political debate, Ramirez’s words may echo far beyond Mexico City.
Her speech will likely be remembered as a defining moment—not just for her, but for a Democratic Party wrestling with its own view of what it means to be American.
