House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sidestepped questions Wednesday about Democratic lawmakers’ efforts to disrupt President Donald Trump’s address to Congress.
“We’re going to keep the focus on the American people — that’s where the focus should be,” he said. “Republicans are crashing the economy in real time and trying to enact the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. That’s unacceptable.”
The New York Democrat said he hadn’t spoken yet to Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), who was escorted off the House floor after standing up to interrupt Trump early in his speech. Jeffries said he planned to have that conversation.
House Republicans raced to introduce resolutions to censure Green for his protest, with Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) introducing his as a privileged measure on Wednesday — setting it up to bypass House committees and get brought up for a House vote as soon as Thursday. Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday night Green should face censure for his conduct.
Green told reporters Wednesday his demonstration was “spontaneous” and that he was prepared “suffer the consequences.”
“I’m not angry with the speaker, I’m not angry with the officers, I’m not upset with the members who are going to bring the motions or resolution to sanction,” he said, adding that he would “do it again.”
Green recently said he would file impeachment articles against Trump and told reporters that “the resolution is in its development right now.”
Democratic leaders had counseled lawmakers heading into last night’s speech to mount a “solemn” response to take props and signs elsewhere. Despite the guidance, lawmakers still interrupted Trump, shouted and waved signs at him.
Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) — chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which organized some of the sign-based protests — told reporters Wednesday that their demonstration “fit very squarely” within the leadership guidance to stay on message and focus on the impact of Trump’s policies. Members waved signs about potential cuts to Medicaid and protecting veterans.
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) appeared to defend the demonstrations, telling reporters she was “angry” about Trump’s address: “Let’s not talk about decorum when the plot is exposed and reiterated every single day.”
