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.


Second suspect arrested after NYC snowball fight sends 2 police officers to hospital
Top Trump ally Steve Daines exits Montana Senate race, plans to retire
GOP senators tangle with Noem during heated hearing on her handling of deportation surge
Popular Far-Left Streamer Advises Suicide Bombers to Switch to Drones for Terror Campaigns
Perfect Justice: We’re Raining Destruction on Iran Using a Suicide Drone They Designed But We Perfected
Rep. Tony Gonzales admits to affair with staffer who died by suicide: ‘Lapse in judgment’
Commercial building explodes in New Jersey, multiple people injured and remain in critical condition
Five takeaways from Minnesota fraud hearing where Walz acknowledged failures
Walz mocked online after GOP lawmaker floats theory in heated hearing about why Kamala Harris chose him as VP
Fox News Poll: Voters give poor marks to economy, Congress and Trump
BREAKING: Kurds Open New Front Against Iranian Regime, Launch Major Ground Offensive
Watch: Schumer Repeatedly Struggles to Condemn Iran Strikes: ‘No One Wants a Nuclear Israel’
Starmer defends waffling on Iran: ‘Hanging on to President Trump’s latest words’ is not ‘special relationship in action’
Planning committee expecting outrage at White House ballroom meeting after 9,000 pages of negative comments
GOP begs Trump to endorse Cornyn as president teases decision ‘soon’


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  ‘Peaceful protest’ narrative at center of antifa terrorism trial

“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.


Second suspect arrested after NYC snowball fight sends 2 police officers to hospital
Top Trump ally Steve Daines exits Montana Senate race, plans to retire
GOP senators tangle with Noem during heated hearing on her handling of deportation surge
Popular Far-Left Streamer Advises Suicide Bombers to Switch to Drones for Terror Campaigns
Perfect Justice: We’re Raining Destruction on Iran Using a Suicide Drone They Designed But We Perfected
Rep. Tony Gonzales admits to affair with staffer who died by suicide: ‘Lapse in judgment’
Commercial building explodes in New Jersey, multiple people injured and remain in critical condition
Five takeaways from Minnesota fraud hearing where Walz acknowledged failures
Walz mocked online after GOP lawmaker floats theory in heated hearing about why Kamala Harris chose him as VP
Fox News Poll: Voters give poor marks to economy, Congress and Trump
BREAKING: Kurds Open New Front Against Iranian Regime, Launch Major Ground Offensive
Watch: Schumer Repeatedly Struggles to Condemn Iran Strikes: ‘No One Wants a Nuclear Israel’
Starmer defends waffling on Iran: ‘Hanging on to President Trump’s latest words’ is not ‘special relationship in action’
Planning committee expecting outrage at White House ballroom meeting after 9,000 pages of negative comments
GOP begs Trump to endorse Cornyn as president teases decision ‘soon’

See also  UN nuclear watchdog says Iran nuclear site damaged in strikes

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.”


Second suspect arrested after NYC snowball fight sends 2 police officers to hospital
Top Trump ally Steve Daines exits Montana Senate race, plans to retire
GOP senators tangle with Noem during heated hearing on her handling of deportation surge
Popular Far-Left Streamer Advises Suicide Bombers to Switch to Drones for Terror Campaigns
Perfect Justice: We’re Raining Destruction on Iran Using a Suicide Drone They Designed But We Perfected
Rep. Tony Gonzales admits to affair with staffer who died by suicide: ‘Lapse in judgment’
Commercial building explodes in New Jersey, multiple people injured and remain in critical condition
Five takeaways from Minnesota fraud hearing where Walz acknowledged failures
Walz mocked online after GOP lawmaker floats theory in heated hearing about why Kamala Harris chose him as VP
Fox News Poll: Voters give poor marks to economy, Congress and Trump
BREAKING: Kurds Open New Front Against Iranian Regime, Launch Major Ground Offensive
Watch: Schumer Repeatedly Struggles to Condemn Iran Strikes: ‘No One Wants a Nuclear Israel’
Starmer defends waffling on Iran: ‘Hanging on to President Trump’s latest words’ is not ‘special relationship in action’
Planning committee expecting outrage at White House ballroom meeting after 9,000 pages of negative comments
GOP begs Trump to endorse Cornyn as president teases decision ‘soon’

See also  California’s vulnerable House Republicans swap districts and strategize ahead of primary

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