Congressional Democrats boycotted roughly half the House and Senate during Donald Trump’s record-setting 107-minute address, in an unprecedented display of opposition that left Republicans largely united behind the president.
Trump had challenged members of Congress to stand if they agreed that America should protect its citizens before “illegal aliens”. Republicans rose to their feet, while Democrats remained seated.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up,” Trump told them. He later described Democrats as “pro-crime” and “sick people”.
Several House Democrats openly jeered the president, including Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Al Green of Texas was escorted from the chamber after holding up a sign reading: “Black People Aren’t Apes!”
The boycott meant many members refused to participate in Congress’s one annual public event. Terri Sewell, an eight-term Democrat from Alabama who attended, said: “I went because I’m an institutionalist. This body can still be a powerful voice for good. That’s the reason why I did it. But it’s increasingly harder to stomach, to be honest.”
Republicans accused of ceding power to Trump
Republicans issued statements praising the address. Dave Joyce, a seven-term Ohio congressman and appropriations subcommittee chairman, said in a statement that Trump had highlighted the achievements of his administration and the Republican-led Congress.
Several months later, however, Joyce acknowledged that Congress had adopted an overly submissive posture towards the president. “I think we have, unfortunately,” he said.
Joyce recalled attending his first such address in 2014, after Barack Obama had threatened to use executive orders and other action if Congress failed to pass his agenda. “I was sitting next to a Democrat, and I said, ‘Doesn’t that bother you?’ But we’re just as bad. We continually cede power to the executive. The president blows things up, and then we just go home,” he said.
He pointed to occasions when Trump expressed displeasure over legislation, including the release of the Epstein files and the failure to pass voter restrictions. Republican congressional leaders responded by going into recess rather than holding votes they knew would anger the president.
