Triviality of finite-dimensional unitary representations of SL2R

The diagonal element $\mathrm{diag}(m,m^{-1})$ conjugates $U(t)$ to $U(m^{2}t)=U(t{)}^{m^2}$. In a finite-dimensional unitary representation, conjugacy therefore makes its eigenvalue multiset invariant under every square power. Square-power rigidity of a finite nonzero spectrum makes the image of every upper unipotent the identity. Its kernel is a normal subgroup; elementary unipotent generators of SL2R then force the entire group representation to be trivial. This algebraic argument does not require continuity.