Empty seats greet Trump at State of the Union | US | News
Wave of empty seats greets Trump as Democrats organize boycott (Image:-)
Rows of empty seats faced President Donald Trump as he delivered his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening; these absences may have been caused by a significant number of Democratic members of Congress choosing to attend alternative counter caucuses instead.
A photo taken from inside the address room showed that there were at least nine empty seats in one particular section.
During his speech, the president emphasized that the economy is improving despite recent polls showing the opposite and argued that Republican leadership is needed to address public concerns about the cost of living.
The State of the Union comes as Republicans brace for a tough midterm election cycle. The American public has expressed dissatisfaction with Trump’s strict immigration enforcement campaign, which reached a critical point in Minnesota after the murder of two US citizens.
Read more: Trump scolds Democrats in State of the Union speech: ‘You should be ashamed of yourselves’
Read more: Trump encountered ‘black people are not monkeys’ banner during State of the Union speech
Trump caused mayhem in Washington during his historic State of the Union address on Tuesday, just minutes into his speech.
After a speech that focused largely on his administration’s domestic accomplishments but was marred from the start by Democratic Congressman Al Green holding up a sign that read “Black people are not monkeys,” Trump turned his sights squarely on his Democratic rivals, using the platform to launch an explosive attack.
He said: “Tonight, I invite every legislator to join my administration in reaffirming a fundamental principle.
“If you accept this statement, stand up and show your support: The first duty of any government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.”
While Republican lawmakers quickly rose to their feet to applause, Democrats appeared to remain seated throughout.
After the standing ovation from his supporters subsided, Trump attacked his opponents.
“You should be ashamed of yourself for not being able to stand up. You should be ashamed of yourself.
“That’s why I’m also asking you to end deadly sanctuary cities that protect criminals and enact serious penalties for public officials who obstruct the elimination of criminal aliens, in many cases drug lords and murderers, from across our country.
The historic speech on America’s 250th birthday was also marred by Democrat Al Green being ejected while carrying a sign that read “Black people are not monkeys,” a reference to Trump’s controversial AI video depicting the Obamas as monkeys.
Trump is trying to convince increasingly skeptical American voters that his policies are producing tangible improvements in their lives and that the US economy is performing better than public perception indicates; He’s urging them to support Republicans in November as the party struggles to maintain its slim majority in the House of Representatives.
The president faces a difficult dual task: celebrating his tumultuous first year back in office while also rallying support for his party ahead of midterm elections in which his name will not appear on the ballot.
The task seems particularly risky for Trump, who is famous for abandoning prepared statements and ignoring his advisers’ carefully crafted messaging strategies.
The main message will emphasize America’s economic strength, citing increased domestic manufacturing and job creation, despite widespread public opinion suggesting otherwise.
