Democrats Protest Trump’s Congressional Address, Some Walk Out in Defiance

President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday was met with fierce protest from Democrats, who held signs reading “No King!” and “Save Medicaid,” with some turning their backs on him as he spoke. Representative Al Green of Texas interrupted the speech early on, loudly denouncing Trump’s lack of a mandate to cut safety net programs before being escorted out by security. Several Democratic lawmakers, including Representative Jasmine Crockett, displayed messages like “Resist” on their clothing before exiting the chamber.

As Trump spoke about his administration’s policies, opposition lawmakers held up signs condemning potential cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits. Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon raised a Ukrainian flag during Trump’s brief remarks on foreign policy, while Representative Rashida Tlaib scribbled protest messages on a whiteboard in response to his words. Representative Melanie Stansbury held a sign stating, “This is not normal,” before Republican Representative Lance Gooden grabbed it and threw it into the air.

Despite the protests, Trump dismissed the backlash, criticizing Democrats for their lack of support. “There is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud,” he remarked. As the speech extended to a record 100 minutes, about a third of the Democratic lawmakers left the chamber before it ended. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on the same day showed Trump’s approval rating at 44%, with 51% of Americans disapproving of his performance so far.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright