President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday night that Republicans should use Democrats’ behavior during his midterm campaign as a focal point, highlighting their lack of applause on several key issues. Trump delivered a major policy speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, where he laid out an optimistic agenda for the next four years, framing it as a “common sense revolution.”
During the nearly two-hour speech, Democrats faced negative optics as most members failed to applaud key moments, such as designating a 13-year-old with brain cancer as an honorary Secret Service agent, a gesture that should have garnered widespread support.
“The Democrats should lose the Midterms based on their behavior at last night’s Joint Address to Congress,” the president posted on Truth Social. “All Republicans must use their behavior on men in women’s sports, their very dangerous Open Border policy, High Energy and Taxes, and much else. Republicans should utilize the footage provided on the total disrespect they showed to all of those that were honored that night, including young ladies who were killed by illegal migrants, people with terminal cancer, etc. They didn’t even have the common courtesy to stand, smile, or applaud.”
Most Democrats did not applaud when a young man was informed of his acceptance to West Point. Some Democrats left during the address, and one, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), was even removed by the Sergeant at Arms for breaking decorum and censured on Thursday. Trump asserted that if Republicans did their jobs in highlighting the footage and lack of response, then it could be their “full CAMPAIGN TO VICTORY!” in next year’s midterms. “In other words, Republicans can take what happened last night, and win any race in the country,” he added. “Good luck!”
The censure vote came less than two days after Green was escorted out of the U.S. House chamber for his outburst during Trump’s remarks. As Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) began reading the resolution, which passed in a 224-198 vote on Thursday morning, a group of Democrats gathered on the House floor and began singing in protest.
The bizarre scene was first reported by Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman. “There’s now shouting match in the house well between democrats and republicans after the Green censure. Things going really well here,” he wrote on X. C-SPAN footage captures the chaotic moment as several dozen Democrats huddle in front of Speaker Mike Johnson, while he gavels and attempts to quiet the crowd to restore order.