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7 Times Democrats Had a Meltdown Over Trump’s State of the Union Speeches

Rep. Al Green yells at President Donald Trump during a joint address to Congress on March 4, 2025. (Tom Brenner for The Washington Post/Getty Images)

Tyler O'Neil / @Tyler2ONeil

Tyler O'Neil is senior editor at The Daily Signal and the author of two books: "Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center," and "The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government."

As Americans tune in to President Donald Trump’s fourth official State of the Union address Tuesday, they may expect Democrats to make a scene of one sort or another.

Twelve Democrats have announced they will boycott the speech and instead attend the “People’s State of the Union,” an event organized by the leftist group MoveOn.org.

About 60 Democrats boycotted Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., boycotted his address to a joint session of Congress that year (Trump’s speeches in 2017 and 2025 did not count as official State of the Union addresses).

Eleven Democrats said they would boycott the State of the Union in 2018, and others boycotted the 2020 speech (including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Al Green, D-Texas).

Many Democrats, however, stayed and disrupted the speeches—as many likely will on Tuesday.

In Feb. 2017, when Trump said, “We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption,” Democrats laughed and booed.

1?2017 LaughterWhen President Trump said, "We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption," Democrats laughed and booed. ?2/10 pic.twitter.com/yrGlyR27A5— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 23, 2026

1?2017 LaughterWhen President Trump said, "We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption," Democrats laughed and booed. ?2/10 pic.twitter.com/yrGlyR27A5

2. Not Clapping for Low Unemployment

“Something I’m very proud of, African-American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded,” Trump said in the January 2018 State of the Union.

Most Democrats refused to stand—and most appear not to have even clapped—for that news.

2?Not cheering low black unemployment"Something I'm very proud of, African-American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded," Trump said.Most Democrats refused to stand—and most appear not to have even clapped—for that news.?3/10 pic.twitter.com/B5q6y4FJgh— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 23, 2026

2?Not cheering low black unemployment"Something I'm very proud of, African-American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded," Trump said.Most Democrats refused to stand—and most appear not to have even clapped—for that news.?3/10 pic.twitter.com/B5q6y4FJgh

Democrats groaned in the February 2019 State of the Union when Trump condemned “ridiculous partisan investigations,” a nod to the probe into alleged ties between Trump and Russia.

3?Russiagate groansDemocrats groaned when President Trump condemned "ridiculous partisan investigations," a nod to the probe into alleged ties between Trump and Russia.?4/10 pic.twitter.com/eKE5CyzsrZ— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 23, 2026

3?Russiagate groansDemocrats groaned when President Trump condemned "ridiculous partisan investigations," a nod to the probe into alleged ties between Trump and Russia.?4/10 pic.twitter.com/eKE5CyzsrZ

4. Pelosi Tears Up the Speech

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up the text of Trump’s State of the Union address in February 2020.

About a week later, she explained that she ripped up the speech as a ploy for attention.

Pelosi hadn’t planned to rip up the speech, but when she “realized most every page had something in it that was objectionable,” she thought it would be a good idea to get some attention.

Speaking to CNN, she lamented that her legislative agenda received “very little press,” and she said, “If you want to get press, you have to get attention.”

“So, I thought, well, let’s get attention on the fact that what he said here today was not true,” she explained.

Pelosi later explained the stunt was a ploy for attention.??6/10 pic.twitter.com/471lgm9LXO— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 23, 2026

Pelosi later explained the stunt was a ploy for attention.??6/10 pic.twitter.com/471lgm9LXO

5. Booing Rush Limbaugh

Trump awarded the Congressional Medal of Freedom to radio host Rush Limbaugh in the 2020 State of the Union address.

When the president made the announcement, Democrats booed and said, “No.”

Ocasio-Cortez released a video condemning Limbaugh as a “virulent racist.”

AOC released a video condemning Limbaugh as a "virulent racist."?8/10 pic.twitter.com/c0HuCj5sSb— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 23, 2026

AOC released a video condemning Limbaugh as a "virulent racist."?8/10 pic.twitter.com/c0HuCj5sSb

6. Al Green Escorted Out

Green raised his cane, repeatedly shouting at Trump during the joint address last year. House Speaker Mike Johnson eventually ordered the sergeant at arms to remove Green.

6?AL GREEN DISRUPTIONRep. Al Green raised his cane, repeatedly shouting at Trump, during the joint address last year. House Speaker Mike Johnson eventually ordered the Sergeant at Arms to remove Green. ?9/10 pic.twitter.com/OyFJVYVjaQ— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) February 23, 2026

6?AL GREEN DISRUPTIONRep. Al Green raised his cane, repeatedly shouting at Trump, during the joint address last year. House Speaker Mike Johnson eventually ordered the Sergeant at Arms to remove Green. ?9/10 pic.twitter.com/OyFJVYVjaQ

Also last year, many Democrats held signs protesting Trump. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., held a sign reading, “This is not normal.” Stansbury used the attention from her “protest” to fundraise for her reelection campaign.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., reportedly held a sign reading, “Cut Elon, NOT Social Security.” This referred to Tesla co-founder Elon Musk, who was heading the Department of Government Efficiency at the time.

Hi that's me. We will not be silent. Join me in the fight.https://t.co/YZTwbSvIIR— Melanie Stansbury (@MelanieforNM) March 5, 2025

Hi that's me. We will not be silent. Join me in the fight.https://t.co/YZTwbSvIIR

The Daily Signal will be covering the speech in real time, so if Democrats pull off any other disruptions, you can find them here.

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