Donald Trump was confronted by a sign reading "black people are not apes" as he arrived to deliver his State of the Union speech tonight. The protest was led by Democrat House member Al Green, who held up the placard as Trump walked into the House of Representatives chamber for the annual address to a joint session of Congress.
Background of the Protest
This year's demonstration refers to a video Trump posted to his Truth Social website earlier this month, which depicted Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Trump claimed he had not watched the video all the way through before instructing an aide to post it on his behalf. Rep. Green was removed from Trump's joint address to Congress last year after yelling at the President in protest over cuts to Medicaid, making this a recurring act of dissent.
Other Demonstrations and Political Context
Some Democratic congresswomen arrived at the speech wearing 'suffragist' white in support of women's rights. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico, who leads the Democratic Women's Caucus, told CBS News: "This year, there are specific attacks on women's ability to vote. The Democratic Women's Caucus is wearing white both to honor that fight that women have always had and to signal we are still in the fight." Meanwhile, some members of Congress opted to skip the speech altogether, following Democrat leaders' urging to avoid disruptive stunts.
Polling and Public Opinion
Trump is entering the State of the Union with worse poll ratings than any president in modern history. A recent Washington Post/ABC News poll found that 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump's job performance, with 47% indicating strong disapproval. Only 39% approved, marking the lowest approval rating for any President ahead of a second-year State of the Union in modern times.
The last time Trump's disapproval reached 60% was shortly after the January 6th Insurrection during his first term. According to the most recent AP-NORC poll, just 29% of Americans believe the country is heading in the right direction, while 69% think it is on the wrong track. This pessimism has increased since Trump took office last year, when about 6 in 10 Americans felt similarly.
Partisan Shifts in Sentiment
The growing negativity is partly due to Republicans' mood darkening last fall after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Although Republicans are now slightly more optimistic than a few months ago, only about 6 in 10 say the country is heading in the right direction, down from approximately 7 in 10 last March. This reflects broader political tensions and the charged atmosphere surrounding Trump's presidency.
