TDTensions exploded on Capitol Hill as Donald Trump clashed openly with Democratic lawmakers during his State of the Union address, triggering shouted accusations, walkouts and dramatic protests inside the House chamber.
The confrontations began as Trump defended his administration’s immigration policies and referenced an ongoing fraud investigation involving members of the Somali community in Minnesota. Democratic lawmakers responded with audible jeers and direct rebukes.
“You should be ashamed!” shouted Rep. Ilhan Omar.
“Liar!” yelled Rep. Rashida Tlaib.
As the speech continued, the exchanges intensified.
“You have killed Americans!” Omar and Tlaib shouted.
She referenced controversial deportation actions and recent deaths linked to immigration enforcement operations. Both lawmakers later exited the chamber.
Al Green Ejected for Second Straight Year
The evening’s first major disruption came when Rep. Al Green was removed from the House floor after holding up a sign reading, “Black People Aren’t Apes!”
The message referenced a social media video previously shared by Trump depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Trump later removed the video following bipartisan criticism but declined to issue an apology.
Green’s removal marked the second consecutive year he has been ejected during a presidential address to Congress.
Democrats Spotlight Epstein Files
In a coordinated protest, more than a dozen House Democrats invited survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as their guests, seeking to highlight what they described as unresolved questions surrounding the so-called “Epstein files.”
“How about those Epstein files?” Tlaib shouted during the speech.
Other lawmakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, wore pins calling for the release of all related documents.
Alternative Events Across Washington
While Trump delivered what aides described as a record-length address, dozens of Democrats skipped the speech entirely.
On the National Mall, lawmakers and activists hosted a “People’s State of the Union,” drawing several hundred in-person attendees and thousands of online viewers. Meanwhile, a separate “State of the Swamp” event was held at the National Press Club.
Rep. Sara Jacobs of California said she chose not to attend the address, stating she would not “sit there and let him gaslight me for two hours.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona said he did not want to “pretend that everything’s normal.”
Official Democratic Response Slams ‘Chaos’ and ‘Corruption’
The formal Democratic rebuttal came from Colonial Williamsburg, delivered by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger.
Spanberger accused Trump of enriching himself and his associates, alleging corruption “unprecedented in scale.”
She criticized the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics and described the country as gripped by economic strain and institutional instability.
“Our broken immigration system is something to be fixed, not an excuse for unaccountable agents to terrorize our communities,” she said.
Trump Doubles Down on Immigration
Despite earlier suggestions his administration might adopt a “softer touch” following controversial enforcement actions, Trump intensified his rhetoric during the speech.
He cited violent crimes committed by undocumented individuals and pointed to an ongoing fraud probe in Minneapolis to justify deploying thousands of immigration officers to Minnesota earlier this year.
“Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm,” Trump said.
He also highlighted the murder of 16-year-old Lizbeth Medina, using the case to reinforce his call for strict deportation policies.
A Deepening Political Divide
The night’s walkouts, heckling and symbolic protests underscored the widening gulf between the president and Democratic lawmakers.
Unlike last year — when Democrats were criticized for muted protest tactics — Tuesday’s disruptions reflected a far more aggressive pushback.
As the 2026 political season accelerates, the confrontational State of the Union signaled that bipartisan cooperation remains distant, with immigration, alleged corruption and institutional trust at the center of an increasingly volatile national debate.
The speech may have been intended to project strength — but it revealed a Congress more divided than at any time in recent memory.
