Signs, Silence, Skipping: How Democrats Protested Trump’s State of the Union

The Protest at Trump’s State of the Union: A Showdown Between Democrats and Republicans

Politics – February 25, 2026

Damn, it’s been a while since we’ve seen such an outright show of dissent during one of President Trump’s State of the Union addresses. Democrats in Congress were out in full force, with some lawmakers choosing to skip the event altogether or attending and making their presence known through various forms of protest.

Leading up to the address, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., had a message for his fellow Democrats: “Attend with silent defiance,” he said. But it seems like that wasn’t enough.

As Trump delivered his remarks, Democrats weren’t just sitting quietly; they were speaking out against his policies and interrupting him at every turn.

Take Rep. Al Green, D-Texas. He walked into the chamber with a sign that read “Black people aren’t apes,” a clear jab at Trump’s recent social media posts depicting former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes.

Security quickly escorted Green out of the chamber after he held up his sign, but it wasn’t the only time someone was removed. Last year, Green faced similar consequences for protesting during Trump’s address to Congress.

But this was about more than just a few signs and boos; Democrats were making their views known on some of the most controversial topics of the day. Rep.

Norma Torres, D-Calif., held up photos of two U.S. citizens killed by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis last month, as Trump discussed his immigration crackdown. Representative Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., shouted “You have killed Americans” right as Trump was discussing his policies.

And let’s not forget the symbolic gesture of inviting over a dozen individuals who claim to be victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to the State of the Union. These guests were wearing pins that read “stand with survivors, release the files.” The administration has faced intense pressure for its handling of information related to Epstein and his network, so this move was as much about political messaging as it was about raising awareness.

Trump didn’t take these protests lying down.

He called the Democrats “crazy” and said they were destroying the country. “We’re lucky we have people like that,” he remarked, referring to the protesters. But his complaints fell on deaf ears; Democrats continued their pushback, showing no signs of backing down.

So there you have it—a State of the Union address that was as much about political theater as it was about delivering policy messages. For now, it looks like the Democrats are ready to keep up the pressure in this midterm year, hoping to make gains in both the House and Senate.

But Trump isn’t going down without a fight. The battle for control of Congress will be one of the main storylines we’ll see in the coming months.

How do you feel about the State of the Union? You might think this is new, but… it’s been happening for years. The real question is: What does this mean for the upcoming midterms?