The morning after President Donald Trump delivered the longest State of the Union address in American history, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman didn’t hold back his frustration with his own side of the aisle.
During an appearance on “America’s Newsroom” with Bill Hemmer, the Democratic senator criticized colleagues for their behavior during the one-hour and 48-minute speech, which ranged from vocal outbursts to organized boycotts.
The President’s address covered a wide spectrum of topics, from celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and awarding the Medal of Honor to two servicemen, to a sharp denunciation of welfare fraud in Minnesota. RELATED: Valor Center Stage: Trump Awards Medals Of Honor To Korean War Ace And Venezuelan Raid Hero
It was during the segments on illegal immigration that the room grew particularly tense. Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan were shouting at the President as he spoke.
Fetterman, known for his blunt style, expressed a desire for a return to traditional decorum.
“I mean, now it’s, you know, the constant kinds of yelling and screaming and, and, and now holding up signs and for doing all these things, I, I don’t think, I don’t care if it’s a Republican or Democrat, it’s a president, just don’t do that, don’t do that,” Fetterman said.
The Senator also took aim at the low attendance among his peers and the visual protests staged in the chamber.
“Respect the office, regardless who’s in that, and now for me, it’s like now when half the people in my party haven’t showed up, and then some of them have chosen to just yell and say and scream during all of it, I, I just don’t think that’s what we want, and I don’t believe as a Democrat… dancing frogs really moves the ball for us as a party either,” he added.
Outside the chamber, the political climate remained equally volatile.
Rep. Ilhan Omar took to X on Tuesday night to accuse Trump of being responsible for the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good, two individuals killed during DHS confrontations involving “rapid-response” ICE operations.
Meanwhile, a counter-rally organized by MoveOn.org saw sparse attendance and moments of internal friction, with former MSNBC host Joy Reid being heckled and Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut being called a “scumbag” by a protester who jumped onto the stage.
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