The House Freedom Caucus warned Democratic lawmakers not to disrupt President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, or else face censure.
House Democratic leadership also called on their members to remain civil during Mr. Trump’s address Tuesday, but some are still expected to protest in a variety of ways.
The Freedom Caucus, whose own members have previously loudly protested addresses by President Biden, demanded the Democrats to stay in line.
“The president’s address to tonight’s joint session of Congress is a constitutional obligation — not a sideshow for Democrats to use noisemakers, make threats, throw things or otherwise disrupt,” the hardline caucus’s board said in a statement. “Our colleagues are on notice that the heckler’s veto will not be tolerated. You will be censured.”
“We expect the Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police to take appropriate action against any Members of Congress or other persons violating House rules,” they said.
Some Democrats aim to disrupt the president’s address with noisemakers, while others plan to bring empty cartons of eggs to protest prices, wear matching outfits or bring signs.
Other Democrats plan to outright skip the affair, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
“I’m not going to the Joint Address,” she said on social media. “I will be live posting and chatting with you all here instead. Then going on IG Live after.”
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, New York Democrat, urged his caucus to show up, but acknowledged that skipping the address was a personal decision, and that “we understand that members will come to different conclusions.”
“However, it is important to have a strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber,” he wrote. “The House as an institution belongs to the American people, and as their representatives we will not be run off the block or bullied.”
