House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sidestepped questions Wednesday about Democratic lawmakers’ efforts to disrupt President Donald Trump’s address to Congress.
“We’re going to keep the focus on the American people — that’s where the focus should be,” he said. “Republicans are crashing the economy in real time and trying to enact the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. That’s unacceptable.”
The New York Democrat said he hadn’t spoken yet to Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), who was escorted off the House floor after standing up to interrupt Trump early in his speech. Jeffries said he planned to have that conversation.
House Republicans on Wednesday raced to introduce resolutions to censure Green for his protest, with the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) all saying they intended to introduce sanctions. Censure measures can be privileged, meaning they can bypass House committees and be brought up on the House floor in a matter of days. Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday night Green should face censure for his conduct.
Democratic leaders had counseled lawmakers heading into last night’s speech to mount a “solemn” response to take props and signs elsewhere. Despite the guidance, lawmakers still interrupted Trump, shouted and waved signs at him.
Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) — chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which organized some of the sign-based protests — told reporters Wednesday that their demonstration “fit very squarely” within the leadership guidance to stay on message and focus on the impact of Trump’s policies. Members waved signs about potential cuts to Medicaid and protecting veterans.
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) appeared to defend the demonstrations, telling reporters she was “angry” about Trump’s address: “Let’s not talk about decorum when the plot is exposed and reiterated every single day.”
