Democrats Bring a Knife to a Gunfight

 By Mildred Robertson

Quiet and non-confrontational. That is what Democratic leadership called for during Trump’s 2025 State of the Union Address. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wished for a “strong” and “dignified” presence at Trump’s speech.  However, Rep. Al Green could not hold his peace and disrupted Trump’s address. For that, he was escorted out of the Chamber and censured, even though Marjorie Taylor Green’s outburst during the Biden speech in 2024 went unpunished.

 

Several legislators walked out midway through Trump’s marathon fuss-fest, shedding their jackets to expose anti-Trump slogans. This act went mostly unnoticed as cameras didn’t bother to capture the “dignified” protest. 

But at least they did SOMETHING.

Al Green's protest resulted in censure by the chamber. Surprisingly 10 Democrats joined Republicans to censure Green.  This is in sharp contrast to the Republican response in 2024 When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) yelled at Biden during his State of the Union address.   And let’s not forget Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) who shouted, “You Lie!” during President Obama’s 2009 speech to Congress. While Wilson received a reprimand, he was not escorted from the Chamber. Nothing happened to Taylor-Green.

 

Clearly, a dignified State of the Union is preferable to chaos. However, there was no dignity in the marathon speech Trump delivered before the Joint Chamber. It was full of lies regarding the crisis on our southern border, trade tariffs aimed at former allies, the abandonment of Ukraine in its war against Russia, and the implementation of government efficiency headed by an unelected partisan.  This administration is busy disassembling American democracy.

While it is not time to be “strong” and “dignified” it IS time to be STRONG. This nationally televised address would have been the perfect time for the Democrats to implement a unified strategy that speaks to the jeopardy our country faces. There comes a time when you need to pull off your earrings, pull your hair back in a ponytail, kick off your shoes, and invite your opposition to “meet me outside.” 

I don't know, perhaps Democrats should have invited constituents to come to Washington D.C. to hold a rally during the speech. Maybe they should have staged anti-state-of-the-union protests in all fifty states and the territories. Perhaps they should have asked constituents to donate a dollar for every lie Trump told. Maybe they should have asked their supporters to simply turn the television off during the speech. 

It seems Democrats have gotten the dignity part down. But the strength part; that seems in short supply.  You just don't bring a knife to a gunfight.