President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address descended into chaos as Democratic lawmakers shouted, walked out, and displayed protest signs during the speech, marking an unprecedented level of disruption during the annual constitutional address to Congress.

Confrontation Erupts During Immigration Remarks

Representatives Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan led vocal protests from the House floor, shouting accusations at the president during his remarks on immigration enforcement and investigations into fraud within Minnesota’s Somali community. Omar yelled, “You should be ashamed!” while Tlaib called Trump a “Liar!” Representative Sarah McBride of Delaware also joined the heckling. Both Omar and Tlaib eventually departed the chamber before Trump concluded his speech, which ran longer than any previous State of the Union address.

Representative Norma Torres of California held signs displaying photos of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, two American citizens killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis in January. The incident has drawn scrutiny to Trump administration deportation policies, though the president showed no sign of policy changes during his address, instead intensifying his rhetoric on illegal immigration.

Lawmaker Ejected for Second Consecutive Year

Representative Al Green of Texas was removed from the House chamber after displaying a sign reading “Black People Aren’t Apes!” The protest referenced a social media video Trump posted earlier this month depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes. Trump deleted the video following bipartisan criticism but declined to apologize. Green’s ejection marked the second straight year he was removed from Trump’s congressional address.

Epstein Files and Alternative Events

More than a dozen House Democrats invited survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as guests, pressuring Trump to release sealed documents related to the case. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wore pins demanding file disclosure. Dozens of Democratic lawmakers skipped the address entirely, attending competing events including a “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall and a “State of the Swamp” gathering at the National Press Club featuring actor Robert De Niro.

Democratic Response Focuses on Corruption Claims

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the official Democratic response from Colonial Williamsburg, accusing Trump of unprecedented corruption and self-enrichment. She criticized what she called “unaccountable agents” terrorizing communities through deportation operations and predicted voters would reject the administration’s “chaos” in November elections. The confrontational atmosphere represented a stark departure from previous years when Democrats faced criticism for more subdued protest methods.