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:
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.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
