"House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., urged Democrats to "attend with silent defiance," or choose not to attend. However, Trump repeatedly sparred with seated Democrats as some interrupted or refused to applaud during his address. The pushback comes as Democrats enter a midterm year where they hope political headwinds can help them make gains in the House and Senate."
"In the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, 57% of respondents said the state of the union is not strong, including 8 in 10 Democrats and about two-thirds of independents. Sixty percent said the country is worse off than it was a year ago, including about two-thirds of independents and 9 in 10 Democrats."
"At the start of Tuesday's address, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas., held up a sign that read, "Black people aren't apes," a reference to the racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes that was posted on Trump's social media account earlier this month. Green was then escorted out of the chamber."
During President Trump's State of the Union address, Democrats mounted significant opposition through boycotts, counter-programming, and in-chamber protests. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries encouraged Democrats to either attend with silent defiance or skip the event entirely. Multiple Democratic lawmakers were removed from the chamber for protesting, including Rep. Al Green who held a sign referencing a racist video posted on Trump's social media. Others walked out during the speech or held up photos of citizens killed by immigration enforcement. Polling data reveals 57% of respondents believe the nation's state is not strong, with substantial majorities of Democrats and independents expressing concern about the country's direction.
#state-of-the-union #democratic-opposition #political-protest #midterm-elections #public-opinion-polling
Read at www.npr.org
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