Democrats Take Part in Protest as Trump Delivers Address

Democrats made their mark on President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress with protest signs, walkouts, and audible jeers, while Trump remained defiant, refusing to yield to what he described as impossible-to-please opposition.

Key Takeaways

Democratic lawmakers brought protest signs with messages like “Save Medicaid,” “Musk Steals,” and “This is not normal” to Trump’s address, with Rep. Al Green being escorted from the chamber after shouting protests.
Several Democrats wore symbolic clothing – white and pink as a form of protest, black among Congressional Black Caucus members, and blue and yellow showing support for Ukraine.
Rep. Lance Gooden physically removed a protest sign from Rep. Melanie Stansbury, while Rep. Rashida Tlaib used a dry erase board to display messages like “no king!” during the speech.
Trump delivered a combative address with no concessions to Democrats, criticizing President Biden and congressional Democrats while receiving enthusiastic support from Republicans.
The display highlighted the deep divisions in Congress that will likely challenge Trump’s legislative agenda moving forward.

Democrats Stage Visual and Verbal Protests

Democratic lawmakers transformed the House chamber into a theater of resistance during President Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday night. Representatives arrived with protest signs bearing messages such as “Save Medicaid,” “Protect Veterans,” “False,” and “Musk Steals.” The demonstrations escalated when Representative Melanie Stansbury displayed a sign reading “This is not normal,” which Republican Representative Lance Gooden forcibly took from her and threw. Meanwhile, Rep. Maxwell Frost prominently displayed a sign reading “Musk Steals” throughout the speech.

The most dramatic moment came when Texas Representative Al Green shouted “You don’t have a mandate,” during Trump’s address, resulting in his removal from the chamber after he refused to stand down. Green had previously announced plans to file articles of impeachment against the president.

Democrats disrupt, protest and wear pained expressions for Trump’s speech https://t.co/TAqpCMNojg

— KSN News Wichita (@KSNNews) March 5, 2025

Fashion as Political Statement

Democratic women coordinated their attire to make visual statements of opposition, with many wearing white and pink as symbols of protest. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus chose to wear black in a show of solidarity and resistance. The sartorial protest extended beyond partisan divisions when several lawmakers wore blue and gold to demonstrate support for Ukraine, a direct counter to Trump’s perceived overtures to Russia. Some Democrats took their protest a step further, turning their backs on Trump during his speech to reveal t-shirts with “RESIST” printed across them.

Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib employed a creative approach to her protest, using a dry erase board to display various messages throughout the speech, including “no king!” and “that’s a LIE!” California Representative Gil Cisneros joined in the vocal protests, frequently interjecting during Trump’s remarks. The protests weren’t limited to those who stayed – Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove walked out of the chamber entirely, later criticizing Trump on social media and stating that “there’s only so much (expletive) a person can tolerate.”

Trump’s Defiant Address

President Trump showed no intention of extending olive branches to his Democratic critics during his address. He appeared unfazed by the protests, offering no concessions to Democrats while sharply criticizing President Biden and congressional Democrats. During the speech, he looked at Democrats and said, “I realize there is absolutely nothing I can say to make them happy or make them stand and smile or applause.”

Trump’s supporters responded enthusiastically, frequently applauding his “America First” agenda and providing a stark visual contrast to the Democratic protests occurring throughout the chamber.