A new report has detailed how Democratic lawmakers may be planning on using anything to disrupt President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday.
According to Axios, Democrats have laid a swath of options on the table to be as disruptive as possible while Trump is speaking, going beyond what was recommended by Democrat leaders of just brining guests that have been slighted by the president and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“The part that we all agree on is that this is not business as usual and we would like to find a way — productively — to express our outrage,” a House Democrat told Axios.
Some lawmakers further told Axios that they plan to walk out of the chamber if Trump says something they find offensive, while other Democrats have been reportedly disagreeing among themselves about what the best approach to be disruptive would be, including the use of noise makers.
Democrats have also floated the idea of having signs with anti-Trump or anti-DOGE messages on them, while others have said they will be bringing eggs, or at least the empty cartons, to display their displeasure at how the rising rate of inflation has driven up egg prices to historic highs.
Axios further reported that Democrats plan to carry pocket constitutions to demonstrate that Trump is violating the Constitution by shuttering several federal agencies, while the use of hand clappers, red cards, along with other props have also been discussed.
During a closed-door meeting Monday, House Democrats had reportedly been discouraged from using props, a move that was also supported by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said her colleagues should stay quiet and air their grievances at home.
“Any demonstration of disagreement, whether it’s visual or whatever, just let him stew in his own juice. Don’t be any grist for the mill to say this was inappropriate,” Pelosi told The Washington Post.
Some House Democrats agree with Pelosi’s sentiments, telling Axios that while there are constituents who want their Democratic leaders to be as disruptive as possible, other are feeling like it “plays into his [Trumps] hands.”
Color-coordinating to reflect the mood is also on the table, with female members of the Congressional Black Caucus have discussed wearing all black, while the Democratic Women’s Caucus is floating the idea of wearing pink.
The Ukraine Caucus co-chair Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) is reportedly planning on distributing ties and scarves with the colors of Ukraine’s flag to signal support for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies wrote a letter to House Democrats stating he and other leaders plan to “make clear to the nation that there is a strong opposition party ready, willing and able to serve as a check and balance.”
