Posted on 03/04/2025 5:54:28 AM PST by Red Badger
Democratic lawmakers are discussing a litany of options to protest at President Trump's speech to Congress on Tuesday, including through outright disruption, a half dozen House Democrats told Axios.
Why it matters: Some of these tactics go beyond their leaders' recommendation that members bring guests hurt by Trump and DOGE. This sets up a potential clash between party traditionalists and its more combative anti-Trump wing.
"The part that we all agree on is that this is not business as usual and we would like to find a way — productively — to express our outrage," one House Democrat told Axios. There is widespread disagreement among Democrats, both inside and outside of Congress, over what would be the most appropriate and effective form of demonstration. What we're hearing: Some members have told colleagues they may walk out of the chamber when Trump says specific lines they find objectionable, lawmakers told Axios.
Criticism of transgender kids was brought up as a line in the sand that could trigger members to storm out, according to a House Democrat. A wide array of props — including noisemakers — has also been floated:
Signs with anti-Trump or anti-DOGE messages — just as Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) held up a sign during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech last year that said "war criminal." Eggs or empty egg cartons to highlight how inflation is driving up the price of eggs. Pocket constitutions to make the case that Trump has been violating the Constitution by shutting down congressionally authorized agencies. Hand clappers, red cards and various other props have also been discussed, multiple sources said. The intrigue: In closed-door meetings and on the House floor Monday night, lawmakers were specifically discouraged from using props, two House Democrats told Axios.
These tactics are also a source of considerable internal debate among House Democratic rank-and-file — in large part based on what they've heard back in their districts. "There are definitely a lot of constituents that really want Democrats to disrupt and there are ... constituents who feel like that just plays into his hands," one House Democrat told Axios. Zoom out: Disruptions during joint session speeches used to provoke outrage, but have become increasingly common in recent years.
Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) outburst at former President Obama — ''you lie," he shouted — was a shocking event in 2009. Former President Biden was persistently heckled by Republicans during multiple State of the Union addresses. Then there was the aforementioned disruption of Netanyahu's speech by Tlaib. Zoom in: Some groups of Democrats plan to mount more traditional protests through the use of color coordination in their wardrobe choices.
Pink: The Democratic Women's Caucus wants all their members to wear pink in a unified display of defiance to a president many of them despise. Black: Female members of the Congressional Black Caucus have separately discussed donning black to more accurately capture the party's somber mood. Blue and yellow: Ukraine Caucus co-chair Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) will distribute ties and scarves with the colors of Ukraine's flag to signal support for President Volodymyr Zelensky. Others plan to sit stone-faced and refuse to clap during the entire speech, another time-honored tactic for opposition party members to silently protest the president.
What they're saying: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) wrote in a letter to House Democrats that he and other leaders plan to attend the speech to "make clear to the nation that there is a strong opposition party ready, willing and able to serve as a check and balance."
Jeffries also said leadership understands if some members skip the speech — as several have said they plan to do — but urged a "strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber." House Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) told Axios leadership is telling members to "keep the focus on the health and safety and the economic wellbeing of our constituents." The bottom line: "Whether we are wearing pink, or black, or yellow and blue, we are all conveying our displeasure with this administration," said. Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.).
"What's more important is our work together and the pressure for three Republicans to do the right thing for everyone," she said.
Democrats never miss a chance to feel good about looking bad. Let them act out. Then watch the approval numbers drop even further.
Yeah bring your guests Dems. Let the GOP then point out their role “Like Professor hired to promote diversity in STEM courses”
Really want an engineer hired on the bases of their skin color, gender or sexual orientation designing the bridges you drive over every day instead of one hired on their merit and experience?
Would be a great troll for President Trump to open his speech saying, "First, I want to condemn the abuse of America's children by transgender activists."
It sends the message, plus he can get all the disrupters out of the room early, saving oxygen for the rest of the audience.
“What’s more important is our work together and the pressure for three Republicans to do the right thing for everyone,” she said.
Yes it’s not 6 because we let CA keep counting 40000 days after the election was over until 3 Rs lost their lead. THEN it was over. :)
What do they want these 3 republicans to do? Let me guess! Vote to impeach? Or just vote d on everything.
They’re are disgusting, sickening trash...dems...and a few Rs in the senate are.
At least the several disgusting Rs in the senate vote with us half the time or more.
Yeah. Act like a bunch of aholes . It’s gotten you where you are today, sis
Why stop?
Democrats are all about theatre. They have no solutions to help the country. They just want to continue the grift.
They could wave little blue and yellow flags. USAID already paid for them and they probably still have them.
Deep State Rent A Mob Goon Squads, still alive and well.
& This ---> Former President Biden was persistently heckled by Republicans during multiple State of the Union addresses.
I honestly don't remember "persistent heckling" at all ... maybe a boo here or there and not clapping enthusiastically enough???
And? We all know that RAT congressmutts are trash. The question is, will the Repugnant Party do anything about it? Or do we still have nothing but RINOs?
The Democrats are juveniles in all respects.
I’m really tired of the “not business as usual” mantra as an excuse for childish, classless behavior. It’s only not business as usual because these clowns and their constituents all have a virulent strand of TDS
You lied was a “ constitutional crisis”, the left will celebrate this as standing up to fascism😎
Speaker Johnson should remove the protesters from ALL committees...............
You know, we sat through 4 years of Joe Biden and nobody on our side made a scene. We didn’t tear up his speeches or bring in noisemakers to disrupt.
Perhaps the democrats could show a little class and respect for America and just grin and bear it.
They were soundly defeated and are too dumb to pivot.
I don’t think it would matter if the person we chose as POTUS was someone other than Trump with the same policies.
These people would behave no differently.
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