Almost from the moment Trump entered the House chamber Tuesday night to deliver his State of the Union address, Democrats began to disrupt. It only deteriorated from there.
Why it matters: It's the new normal for presidential speeches to Congress, with Republicans heckling Democratic presidents and vice versa.
Tuesday's disruptions came despite House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) repeatedly telling his members behind closed doors not to repeat the widespread disruptions that Trump faced last year during his speech to a joint session of Congress. Ahead of Tuesday's speech, Jeffries sternly dismissed Axios' reporting that protests were still likely to occur despite his instructions to the contrary. A Jeffries spokesperson did not immediately respond on Tuesday night to a request for comment. What happened: As Trump entered the chamber, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), who was notoriously escorted out of Trump's address last year for repeated heckling, mounted yet another protest.
Green held up a sign reading "BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T APES" — a reference to a racist video Trump's account posted this month. Green refused to sit as Trump began his speech. Several Republicans verbally confronted Green, with a few trying to wrench the sign out of Green's hands. Eventually, Green was escorted out of the chamber by a House sergeant-at-arms staffer. Zoom in: The broader heckling began in earnest shortly after Trump goaded Democrats by pointing out they didn't applaud a line about banning gender transition surgery for minors.
"Look, nobody stands up. These people are crazy. I'm telling you, they're crazy," Trump said. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) began to heckle, yelling "lies!" and — when Trump began to discuss immigration — "you're killing Americans." Tlaib and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who were sitting next to each other, repeatedly heckled Trump, shouting over lines about immigration, crime and foreign policy. Between the lines: At one point in the speech, Tlaib yelled at Trump, "How are those Epstein files? How are those Epstein files? Release them! ... Release the Epstein files!"
Just a stark reminder that Democrats, especially leadership, are by and large spinless, worthless, and pathetic people.
That is why they should take a note from trumps book and when they do the thing, put their name to it, no more hiding (good or bad behind a party name), let everyone see who is of character they wanted.
Democrat leadership is, there's a few gems in the dirt at least.
And the Republicans are actively campaigning to massacre minorities while several of their top leaders are child predators and murderers.
Just so both sides are clearly stated. That is the norm these days, right?
Wait, so the ones disrupting the speeches are spineless?
Do you honestly think that I was referring to the people who were heckling Trump?
Are you that obtuse about what I'm referencing in the article?
I'm pointing out your phrasing choice wasn't the best.
On an article where the headline says democrats were interrupting his speech you said Democrats are spineless. Could have just left it at democrat leadership.
Thats all i'm saying. But please go back to calling me names for daring to question why you're blaming ALL DEMOCRATS on an article where SOME DEMOCRATS were heckling him.
I think you're further justified in your criticism because the poster's whole schtick is to criticize Democrats.
Controlled opposition. Pretend to be the “good guys” while taking pac money
Even if they aren't, the results are the same.
It's why I don't donate or volunteer for DNC for a decade now, only do that for progressive who actually fight for their convictions.
excuse me kind sir the only thing the Democratic party leaders do is spin
We need a People’s party, that actually represents us.
Sorry AI {brought to you this week by Tide click here for more from them} has deemed your comment unamerican. Its a good thing that doesnt matter as your electoral collage will put in place who we say.