WESH: Florida congressman walks out of Trump's joint address, reveals shirt in protest
WASHINGTON —Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost walked out of President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress on Tuesday night.
Frost revealed a "No Kings Live Here" T-shirt under his jacket as he walked out.
In a statement, Frost said:
"Donald Trump is many things – a liar, a grifter, a wanna-be-dictator – but no matter how hard he tries and how many Republicans in Congress bend the knee and kiss the ring: he will never be king.
"Tonight, the American people saw a desperate liar stand in front of a podium and spit out excuse after excuse as to why he hasn't been able to make your life better. Why he can't make eggs cheaper, why he can't lower housing costs, why the stock market is tanking under his watch, why innocent immigrants and trans people are to blame. All lies.
"The people of this country are seeing right through the lies. We won't let up."
Frost wasn't the only Democrat to protest Tuesday's speech.
Protests during Trump's address
Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas was ejected after blurting out a shout of protest during the address.
Green said afterward it was worth it to make his point — even if he is punished by House leaders, who later called for the congressman to be censured.
“The president was saying he had a mandate, and I was making it clear that he has no mandate to cut Medicaid,” Green told reporters, referring to the health care program used by 80 million Americans.
“It’s worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this president.”
In past years, several lawmakers have raised their voices to shout at presidents – from GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s shouts against President Joe Biden and the “You lie!” outburst from Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. against President Barack Obama.
Of course, during Trump’s first term, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not raise her voice, but silently ripped up the president’s speech on the dais, once he had finished delivering it.
By: Dacia Johnson
Source: WESH