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Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar Stay Seated While Tuskegee Airman Is Honored with Standing Ovation

As a divided Washington took an emotional moment Tuesday night to honor one of the last remaining heroes of World War II, two progressive lawmakers appeared unwilling to join in honoring one of the last surviving members of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen.

Video from President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address shows Reps.Ā Ilhan OmarĀ of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan seated while other Democrats — who throughout the speech mostly refused to join Republicans in applauding Trump — stood to honor Charles McGee.


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McGee was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a unit of black aviators who were barred from fighting and flying alongside whites during the era of segregation. The Tuskegee Airmen distinguished themselves in combat duringĀ World War II.

ā€œAfter more than 130 combat missions in World War II, he came back to a country still struggling for civil rights and went on to serve America in Korea and Vietnam. On Dec. 7, Charles celebrated his 100th birthday,ā€Ā Trump saidĀ in honoring McGee.

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ā€œA few weeks ago, I signed a bill promoting Charles McGee to brigadier general. And earlier today, I pinned the stars on his shoulders in the Oval Office. General McGee: Our nation salutes you,ā€ Trump said.

As Republicans and Democrats rose to applaud McGee, Omar andĀ TlaibĀ did not.

Democratic Rep. James E.Ā ClyburnĀ of South Carolina also failed to applaud,Ā The Washington PostĀ reported.


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Tlaib and Omar were among those who left the speech early, according toĀ The Week.

Both tweeted their condemnations of Trump on Tuesday:

Many on social media were disgusted at the disrespect shown to McGee:

At another point during the speech, Omar and Tlaib were seen conversing with each other:

And as the video below reveals, Omar and Tlaib were among thoseĀ who remained seatedĀ when Trump proclaimed, ā€œWe must always remember that our job is to putĀ America first.ā€


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The Democrats’ behavior was not unexpected.

ā€œMy Democratic colleagues, they sat on their hands last time, even when there wasn’t an impeachment,ā€ Republican Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina toldĀ The PostĀ before the speech. ā€œThey’ll sit on their hands this time, in spite of impeachment.ā€

Story cited here.

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