Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday night was marred by protests and a ‘willful breach of decorum’, as one woman defiantly held up a sign reading ‘this is not normal’ and another man was removed from the building after refusing to be silenced
As US President Donald Trump addressed Congress on Tuesday night, his anticipated triumphant welcome was marred by a silent protest. As the world watched his entrance, one woman was seen holding a sign that read: “This is not normal”.
This act of defiance was not only against his return to office but also his contentious policies over the past 44 days. The woman, later identified as Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, had her sign snatched away by a Trump supporter and thrown into the air.
However, it had already been broadcast to millions worldwide. Adding to the disruption, as Mr Trump began his speech, he was interrupted by Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas, reports the Express.
Refusing to be silenced or seated, Green lifted his cane in the air and started yelling out. House Speaker Mike Johnson warned, “Members are engaging in wilful and continuing breach of decorum, and the chair is prepared to direct the Sergeant at Arms to restore order to the joint session,” He then directed Green to take his seat.
Unfazed, Green retorted, “He has no mandate,” referring to Trump.
“Finding that members continue to engage in wilful and concerted disruption of proper decorum, the chair now directs the Sergeant at Arms to restore order, remove this gentleman from the chamber,” Johnson declared, as applause erupted from the Republican side. As Mr. Green was led out of the building, some Republicans also sang out, “Na-na-na-na, hey, hey, hey, goodbye.”
Several more Democratic lawmakers also participated in a further protest of President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, brandishing signs that read “Musk steals” as Trump discussed his second-term accomplishments.
The fan-sized signs held by Democrats displayed “Musk steals” on one side – criticising the world’s wealthiest man, who has become one of Trump’s closest – albeit unelected – advisers. While the other side read ‘False” in a protest to some of the President’s statements. Other signs were seen reading: “save Medicaid” and “protect veterans.”
Unperturbed by the Democratic opposition, the President addressed the Democratic side of the chamber directly: “This is my fifth such speech to Congress, and once again, I look at the Democrats in front of me and I realise there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or to make them stand or smile or applaud. “
President Donald Trump, undaunted by his detractors, swiftly boasted of his electoral triumph during his speech to Congress on Tuesday, asserting that he secured “a mandate like has not been seen in many decades.” As he made this claim, Republican members stood and chanted “USA!”
In stark contrast, boos were heard from several lawmakers as Trump remarked on an electoral map that “reads almost completely red for Republican. “
This vocal disapproval comes amidst a series of contentious actions by President Trump, including cutting aid to Ukraine, targeting immigrants, and sanctioning widespread layoffs of federal workers at the direction of DOGE.
The political arena remains sharply divided over Trump’s presence in the White House, especially after his recent convictions on 34 felony charges related to illicit efforts to sway the 2016 election, which included paying ‘hush money’ to a porn actor. The President has consistently denied these allegations.