News Opinons Politics

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. Ilhan Omar 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.


Minnesota bill would ban warrants allowing police to collect data from devices near a crime scene
Jasmine Crockett defends her security guard who was killed in police standoff, wanted for impersonating cop
ABC News Left Out Crucial Context In Story About Iran Drone Threat To California
Anti-ICE agitators blow cover in Boston, allowing child rape suspect to evade arrest for weeks
Utah children’s book author Kouri Richins convicted in husband’s murder
Trump questions Newsom’s fitness for White House, citing his dyslexia
Court allows DOJ to proceed with appeal over law firm executive orders
Trump lawyer in Jack Smith case draws conservative backing after DOJ praise rattles ‘elite’ legal conference
Vance accuses media of trying to ‘drive a wedge’ between him and Trump over Iran
Cornyn clashes with progressive Rep Greg Casar in heated airport face-off over DHS shutdown
Trump Kennedy Center’s board votes unanimously to approve $257M renovations and two-year closure
Father Sues Blue-State School District on Behalf of His Son Over Pledge of Allegiance
Leaked audio reveals new Iranian supreme leader survived strike because he went outside
Head of Kennedy Center Who Fired Founder of The Western Journal Over Biblical Values Is Now Stepping Down
Greg Bovino, face of Trump’s mass deportation campaign, to retire after controversial Minneapolis raids


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 during World War II.

“After 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,” Trump said in honoring McGee.

See also  US is ‘steadily destroying’ Iran’s ‘most essential’ war tools: Report

“A 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,” Trump said.

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

Democratic Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina also failed to applaud, The Washington Post reported.


Minnesota bill would ban warrants allowing police to collect data from devices near a crime scene
Jasmine Crockett defends her security guard who was killed in police standoff, wanted for impersonating cop
ABC News Left Out Crucial Context In Story About Iran Drone Threat To California
Anti-ICE agitators blow cover in Boston, allowing child rape suspect to evade arrest for weeks
Utah children’s book author Kouri Richins convicted in husband’s murder
Trump questions Newsom’s fitness for White House, citing his dyslexia
Court allows DOJ to proceed with appeal over law firm executive orders
Trump lawyer in Jack Smith case draws conservative backing after DOJ praise rattles ‘elite’ legal conference
Vance accuses media of trying to ‘drive a wedge’ between him and Trump over Iran
Cornyn clashes with progressive Rep Greg Casar in heated airport face-off over DHS shutdown
Trump Kennedy Center’s board votes unanimously to approve $257M renovations and two-year closure
Father Sues Blue-State School District on Behalf of His Son Over Pledge of Allegiance
Leaked audio reveals new Iranian supreme leader survived strike because he went outside
Head of Kennedy Center Who Fired Founder of The Western Journal Over Biblical Values Is Now Stepping Down
Greg Bovino, face of Trump’s mass deportation campaign, to retire after controversial Minneapolis raids

See also  Supreme Court’s tariffs nix scrambles Michigan campaigns

Tlaib and Omar were among those who left the speech early, according to 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 those who remained seated when Trump proclaimed, “We must always remember that our job is to put America first.”


Minnesota bill would ban warrants allowing police to collect data from devices near a crime scene
Jasmine Crockett defends her security guard who was killed in police standoff, wanted for impersonating cop
ABC News Left Out Crucial Context In Story About Iran Drone Threat To California
Anti-ICE agitators blow cover in Boston, allowing child rape suspect to evade arrest for weeks
Utah children’s book author Kouri Richins convicted in husband’s murder
Trump questions Newsom’s fitness for White House, citing his dyslexia
Court allows DOJ to proceed with appeal over law firm executive orders
Trump lawyer in Jack Smith case draws conservative backing after DOJ praise rattles ‘elite’ legal conference
Vance accuses media of trying to ‘drive a wedge’ between him and Trump over Iran
Cornyn clashes with progressive Rep Greg Casar in heated airport face-off over DHS shutdown
Trump Kennedy Center’s board votes unanimously to approve $257M renovations and two-year closure
Father Sues Blue-State School District on Behalf of His Son Over Pledge of Allegiance
Leaked audio reveals new Iranian supreme leader survived strike because he went outside
Head of Kennedy Center Who Fired Founder of The Western Journal Over Biblical Values Is Now Stepping Down
Greg Bovino, face of Trump’s mass deportation campaign, to retire after controversial Minneapolis raids

See also  Judge James Boasberg blocks DOJ subpoenas against Fed Chairman Jerome Powell

The Democrats’ behavior was not unexpected.

“My Democratic colleagues, they sat on their hands last time, even when there wasn’t an impeachment,” Republican Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina told The Post before the speech. “They’ll sit on their hands this time, in spite of impeachment.”

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter