{"id":2573332,"date":"2026-02-25T01:42:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T06:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-we-saw-inside-the-house-during-trumps-state-of-the-union\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T01:45:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T06:45:57","slug":"what-we-saw-inside-the-house-during-trumps-state-of-the-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-we-saw-inside-the-house-during-trumps-state-of-the-union\/","title":{"rendered":"What we saw inside the House during Trump&#8217;s State of the Union"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-we-saw-inside-the-house-during-trumps-state-of-the-union%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2573332&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Trump&#8217;s State of the Union address on February 24, 2026, unfolded as a highly partisan spectacle in the House, with Republicans applauding and urging decorum while many Democrats sat in silent defiance or offered sharp interruptions. The over-two<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >-hour speech featured combative rhetoric<\/a>, including direct challenges to Democrats to respond, and notable disruptions such as Rep. Al Green displaying a protest sign that led to his ejection. Although there were a few bipartisan moments of recognition, the night underscored sharp partisan divides, with most Democrats staying seated during key moments, and some shouting back. The event also included moments of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/matt-gaetz-requests-pledge-of-allegiance-before-hearings-nadler-shoots-him-down\/\" title=\"Matt Gaetz Requests Pledge Of Allegiance Before Hearings; Nadler Shoots Him Down\">national pride<\/a>, such as a near-unanimous standing ovation for the U.S. men\u2019s Olympic hockey team and other tributes, alongside Trump\u2019s praise for Olympic athletes and pledges to honor them with awards. Fashion and messaging also stood out: Democratic women wore white to honor suffragettes, and several attendees sported \u201cRelease the files\u201d pins referencing Epstein-related redactions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Inside the Chamber: Trump gets under Democrats&rsquo; skin at State of the Union<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2515404\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President Donald Trump&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-of-the-union\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"658\">State of the Union<\/a> address on Tuesday did what was expected &mdash; but also what the White House appeared intent on provoking: make Republicans laugh and clap, while Democrats grimaced, yelled, or sat in silence as Trump repeatedly forced them into visible moments of defiance.<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds gathered on the floor and in the rafters of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"93\">House of Representatives<\/a> during Trump&rsquo;s address, which lasted for over two hours. Responses to Trump&rsquo;s remarks largely fell along party lines, with Democrats repeatedly confronted with moments requiring a public reaction, mostly sitting in silence but a handful heckling, shouting, or storming out as the speech wore on.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4470732\/trump-pelosi-stock-trading-congress-state-of-the-union\/\">Trump mocks Nancy Pelosi in call to pass stock trading ban<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4470743\/trump-shames-democrats-protect-americans-illegal-immigrants\/\">Trump shames Democrats for refusing to stand on call to put Americans over illegal immigrants<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4470489\/democrats-targeted-illegal-orders-video-attend-trump-state-union\/\">Democrats targeted over &lsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/joe-concha-slams-democrats-who-urged-troops-to-reject-illegal-orders\/\" title=\"Joe Concha slams ... who urged troops to reject \u2018illegal orders\u2019\">illegal orders&#038;rsquo<\/a>; video attend Trump State of the Union<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In contrast, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"240\">Republicans<\/a> cheered and applauded cohesively, not jeering at Democrats but instead calling for &ldquo;order&rdquo; if the disruptions went on too long &mdash; a contrast that only sharpened as the night progressed.<\/p>\n<p>Trump, for his part, did have a combative tone during most of his speech that appeared calibrated to trigger confrontation with Democrats and daring them to respond.<\/p>\n<p>There were scattered bipartisan moments, with Democrats and Republicans clapping for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/erika-kirk\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17739\">Erika Kirk<\/a>, widow of Charlie Kirk; the family of deceased National Guard member <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3901330\/trump-announces-national-guard-soldier-sarah-beckstrom-died-from-her-injuries-after-shooting\/\">Sarah Beckstrom<\/a>; National Guard member <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3909575\/west-virginia-governor-update-national-guard-member-shot\/\">Andrew Wolfe<\/a>; and the United States men&rsquo;s Olympic hockey team, among other attendees. But even those moments underscored how selectively unity was extended throughout the night.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans, meanwhile, got to clap proudly as Trump presented Wolfe and Beckstrom&rsquo;s families with the Purple Heart for the shooting that occurred in Washington in November 2025. The president also honored Charlie Kirk and Erika Kirk, calling for everyone to &ldquo;reject political violence of any kind.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Al Green (D-TX) holds a sign with the words &ldquo;Black people aren&rsquo;t apes!&rdquo; during President Donald Trump&rsquo;s State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-al-green-strikes-again\">Al Green strikes again<\/h2>\n<p>As Trump was entering the chamber, Rep. Al Green (D-TX) tried to show Trump a sign that said &ldquo;Black people aren&rsquo;t apes!&rdquo; House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) tried to rip it down, but Green managed to hold on to it.<\/p>\n<p>A few members of Congress, including Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), went over to speak to Green, asking him to take it down. A member of the House chamber staff also spoke to him. When he refused to put the sign down, he was ejected from the floor.<\/p>\n<p>Green&rsquo;s ejection was a reoccurrence of Trump&rsquo;s 2025 joint address to Congress, when the Texas Democrat made headlines for yelling, &ldquo;You have no mandate&rdquo; and waving his cane at the president before being escorted out.<\/p>\n<p>As he did last year, Trump ignored Green on Tuesday night &mdash; allowing the disruption to stand as its own spectacle without engaging it.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) yell at President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-democrats-buck-jeffries-request-of-sitting-in-silent-defiance\">Democrats buck Jeffries&rsquo; request of sitting in &lsquo;silent defiance&rsquo;<\/h2>\n<p>While most Democrats adhered to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries&rsquo;s (D-NY) request that the caucus sit in &ldquo;silent defiance,&rdquo; a few shouted at Trump or left the chamber over his remarks.<\/p>\n<p>Green was the only lawmaker escorted from the chamber. But members such as Reps. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Bill Foster (D-IL), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA) stood up and left the chamber during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-taking-regeneron-drug-remdesivir-therapy-for-coronavirus-diagnosis-ex-wh-doctor-explains\/\" title=\"... taking Regeneron drug, Remdesivir therapy for coronavirus diagnosis: ex...WH doctor explains\">president&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s speech.<\/p>\n<p>Heckling started out minimal but grew as Trump began talking about his immigration policies and alleged fraud committed by Somalis in Minnesota. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) called Trump a liar on multiple occasions.<\/p>\n<p>The most explosive moment of the night came when Trump directly challenged Democrats to respond.<\/p>\n<p>When Trump asked members to stand up if they agreed that the &ldquo;duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens,&rdquo; all Democrats stayed seated. Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) stood up and waved a sign emblazoned with the faces of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two American citizens killed by federal immigration officers. Tlaib and Omar shouted that he was killing American citizens.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You should be ashamed of yourself,&rdquo; Trump said to the Democrats sitting down. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;You killed Alex,&rdquo; Tlaib yelled.<\/p>\n<p>While progressives were triggered, moderates such as Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/cspanJeremy\/status\/2026495095617327601?s=20\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/cspanJeremy\/status\/2026495095617327601?s=20\">were caught falling asleep during the speech<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I have always had a hard time staying awake watching reruns,&rdquo; Suozzi said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Members of the United States Olympic hockey team attend as President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in the House chamber at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-usa-men-s-olympics-hockey-team-gets-near-unanimous-standing-ovation\">USA men&rsquo;s Olympics hockey team gets near-unanimous standing ovation<\/h2>\n<p>Adorned with their gold medals, members of the USA men&rsquo;s Olympic hockey team received loud applause from everyone in attendance as they stood in the rafters above Trump.<\/p>\n<p>All Republicans and most Democrats stood, while almost the entire chamber clapped for the players. The athletes themselves smiled and waved, with a few chanting &ldquo;U-S-A! U-S-A!&rdquo; along with Republicans.<\/p>\n<p>Trump praised the team, as well as the U.S. women&rsquo;s Olympic hockey team, which did not attend but also won the gold medal. He added he would award goaltender Connor Hellebuyck the Presidential Medal of Freedom.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Members of the United States Olympic hockey team attend as President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo\/Matt Rourke)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fashion-statements\">Fashion statements<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Members of the Democratic Women&rsquo;s Caucus wear white to honor suffragettes and the Jeffrey Epstein victims ahead of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s State of the Union. (Provided to the Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Several on the Democratic side made fashion statements. The Democratic Women&rsquo;s Caucus sported white outfits, with members telling the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> it was to honor the suffragettes.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/trump-state-of-the-union-2026-live-updates\/\">LIVE UPDATES: TRUMP DELIVERS 2026 STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many Democrats were also wearing &ldquo;Release the files&rdquo; pins with the word &ldquo;Epstein&rdquo; blacked out, a reference to redactions in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-did-maricopa-county-delete-all-of-its-2020-election-results\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: Did Maricopa County Delete All Of Its 2020 Election Results?\">files related<\/a> to Jeffrey Epstein. <\/p>\n<p>Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who is known for donning sweatshirts on the Senate floor, attended Trump&rsquo;s address in a suit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump split lawmakers at State of the Union<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2573333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2195.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4172,32304,51662,3634],"class_list":["post-2573332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-capitol","tag-house-of-representatives","tag-state-of-the-union","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2195.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2573332"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2573336,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573332\/revisions\/2573336"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2573333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2573332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2573332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2573332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}