Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who appeared to be the only Democrat to shake hands with President Donald Trump at Tuesday’s State of the Union, argued the left’s behavior won’t help its cause.
“I do believe that that’s true,” Fetterman said Wednesday on “America’s Newsroom” of apparently being the lone Democratic handshake.
“I shook his hand, of course. He walked in, and I’m always going to do that, for sure,” he added.
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A number of Democrats skipped Trump’s address to Congress, an event marked by several tense exchanges between the president and liberal lawmakers.
Trump criticized Democrats at times, while some Democratic lawmakers shouted back. Democrats also wore anti-ICE and “Release the Files” pins in protest.
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On the Democratic side of the aisle, there were several empty seats because lawmakers refused to attend the event. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, was also ejected from the address for the second year in a row after holding a sign that said “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES!”
Fetterman described his side of the aisle as “disappointing,” adding he found it sad so many of his colleagues didn’t show up.
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“I think, show up. You don’t have to clap for everything. You don’t have to agree with anything,” he said.
“It’s the constant kinds of yelling and screaming and holding up signs and for doing all these things. I don’t care if it’s a Republican or Democrat. It’s a president. Just don’t do that. Respect the office.”
Some Democrats instead chose to attend the “State of the Swamp” event, intended as a response to the State of the Union. Actor Robert De Niro attended the event, which featured members of the Portland Frog Brigade dressed in inflatable frog costumes.
Fetterman argued those kinds of events aren’t helping his party with everyday voters.
“I don’t believe, as a Democrat, dancing frogs really moves the ball for us as a party either,” he said.
