Al Green’s protest at Trump speech not helping Democrats: Stirewalt

  • Democrats held up signs in protest of Trump's congressional speech
  • Stirewalt: Protests of address ‘beneath the work of a great nation’
  • Not attending event would have been more effective, he says

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(NewsNation) — NewsNation’s Chris Stirewalt said Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, trying to argue with President Donald Trump during his Congressional speech was “not the look the Democratic Party was trying to get.”

During Trump’s speech, Green stood up and told Trump, “You don’t have a mandate. … You have no mandate to cut Medicaid.” He was immediately drowned out by people chanting “USA” and booing.

Democrats in the House of Representatives raised placards saying, “(Elon) Musk steals,” “Save Medicaid” and “Protect Veterans.”

Stirewalt expressed confusion over their actions, saying, “I have no idea what Democrats thought they were doing holding up those signs … If you don’t want to be there, don’t go,” he said, stating it’d be more powerful to not show up at all.

“It’s all beneath the work of a great nation,” Stirewalt added.

Green says getting ejected from speech was ‘worth it’

According to a White House pool report, Green spoke to reporters after getting escorted out of the House of Representatives chambers for protesting Trump’s speech.

“It’s worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up” to Trump, Green said.

After Trump’s address, the Democratic Party gave a brief speech in response. This year’s response was delivered by Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan.

NewsNation’s Jackie Koppell contributed to this report.

On Balance with Leland Vittert

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