House Rep. Rashida Tlaib said on Friday that she held colleague Ilhan Omar’s hand during ‘triggering’ moments of President Trump’s State of the Union speech at the US Capitol Building on Tuesday.
‘It was a huge struggle for me because I don’t think people realize it’s worse when you’re actually there,’ the congresswoman from Michigan said on Friday during a panel discussion with Omar.
Turning to Omar, Tlaib said there were ‘moments of triggering and I kept holding your hand and we intentionally sat next to each other to support each other.’
Tlaib; Omar, the Somali-American congresswoman from Minnesota; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; and Ayanna Pressley are four first-term Democratic female members of the House who are known by the moniker ‘the squad.’
Trump and his supporters in the Republican Party have attacked ‘the squad’, accusing them of holding anti-Semitic views.
House Rep. Rashida Tlaib said on Friday that she held colleague Ilhan Omar’s hand during President Trump’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday
Tlaib and Omar are seen sitting next to each other during the State of the Union address at the US Capitol Building on Tuesday
Tlaib said she and Omar sat next to each other during the speech in order to support one another
Omar (left) takes a selfie with Tlaib (standing far right), fellow House Rep. Pramila Jayapal (center), and an unidentified member of Congress
Trump’s remarks during his speech angered Democrats, who say it was hyper-partisan and provocative
Ocasio-Cortez, the representative of New York’s 14th congressional district, and Pressley, who was elected by Massachusetts’ 7th congressional district, boycotted the State of the Union in protest of Trump’s policies.
But Tlaib, who is of Palestinian Arab origin, and Omar, the Somali-born refugee, decided to attend while wearing ethnically traditional outfits as an act of defiance.
‘I’m joining my sisters in Congress in wearing white – my white #PalestinianThobe – to #SOTU,’ Tlaib tweeted on Tuesday before Trump’s address to the nation.
A thobe is an ankle-length garment with sleeves that is worn primarily in Middle Eastern countries.
Tlaib and Omar are two of the four members of the so-called ‘squad’ featuring House Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (second from right) and Ayanna Pressley (far right)
White is also the color of the women’s suffrage movement. Female Democrats in Congress wore white as a way to honor the movement that fought for women’s right to vote.
Tlaib added in her tweet: ‘Being #unapologeticallyMe is my way of protesting this #ImpeachedPresident.’
Omar also tweeted on Tuesday in response to Tlaib, writing: ‘Yes sis, our presence is resistanceI am wearing my Ayeeyo’s Cambuur garbeed and bringing the Arawelo spirit to the people’s house.’
‘Ayeeyo’ is the Somali word for grandmother.
Tlaib and Omar appeared on a panel featuring the other two members of the ‘squad’ at Howard University in Washington, DC, on Friday.
Tlaib said that she remained seated during the speech but decided to leave when the president announced that conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh would receive the Medal of Freedom.
Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley boycotted the speech, but Tlaib announced on Tuesday she would attend while wearing traditional Palestinian garb
‘I’m joining my sisters in Congress in wearing white – my white #PalestinianThobe – to #SOTU,’ Tlaib tweeted on Tuesday before Trump’s address to the nation. A thobe is an ankle-length garment with sleeves that is worn primarily in Middle Eastern countries
Omar also said she would attend Trump’s State of the Union while dressed in a traditional Somali outfit
Omar also tweeted on Tuesday in response to Tlaib, writing: ‘Yes sis, our presence is resistanceI am wearing my Ayeeyo’s Cambuur garbeed and bringing the Arawelo spirit to the people’s house.’
Tlaib eventually walked out of the speech citing Trump’s ‘lies, bigotry, and shameless bragging about taking away food stamps that people depend on to live’
Tlaib also said on Friday that she walked out in part due to Trump’s decision to award conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh the Medal of Freedom
‘We ended up leaving, especially when they just went full out applause when they put that medal around Rush,’ Tlaib said.
Limbaugh is a controversial figure because of statements he has made in the past about racial minorities.
Last week, Limbaugh announced on his radio program that he has Stage 4 lung cancer.
Tlaib and Omar were among several Democratic members of Congress who rose to their feet and shouted at the president during his address when he vowed to sign a bill that would lower the cost of prescription drugs.
‘Working together, Congress can reduce drug prices substantially from current levels,’ Trump asserted during his address Tuesday evening from the House Chamber.
‘I have been speaking to Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and others in Congress in order to get something on drug pricing done, and done quickly and properly.
‘I’m calling for bipartisan legislation that achieves the goal of dramatically lowering prescription drug prices,’ he continued, a jab at Democrats who have worked on a similar bill that the president is describing.
‘Get a bill on my desk and I will sign it into law immediately,’ the president vowed.
This caused an uproar from Democrats, especially from female lawmakers, many of whom were dressed in all white to stand in solidarity with the women who fought in the 20th century suffrage movement.
Tlaib and Omar led the chant ‘HR3’ and held up three fingers during Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday evening
The demonstration from Democratic lawmakers, which included ‘boos’ and groans, came as Trump talked about healthcare and said he would sign a bipartisan bill that reduced prescription drug prices
‘I’m calling for bipartisan legislation that achieves the goal of dramatically lowering prescription drug prices,’ he continued, a jab at Democrats who have worked on a similar bill that the president is describing. ‘Get a bill on my desk and I will sign it into law immediately’
Holding up three fingers was a reference to the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which was proposed by Democrats, and named after late Congressman Elijah Cummings (pictured)
The Democrats held up three fingers as they booed, groaned and chanted ‘HR3!’
Their chant was making reference to the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which was named after the late Democratic congressman who died at 68 from ‘complications concerning longstanding health challenges.’
Cummings and Trump sparred publicly, especially after the president took a hit at the district he represented, which includes Baltimore – and the president slammed it for failing and being ‘rat infested’ due to the congressman’s leadership there.
The Democrats attempted to portray that this bill would meet what he said he is looking to achieve: singing a bill that would lower drug prices.
The bill was passed in the Democrat-majority House in mid-December, and is awaiting a vote in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans.
Trump’s speech on Tuesday mirrored more of a campaign rally than a usual State of the Union address – and caused Democrats to erupt at several points in boos and groans.
After the speech, Tlaib tweeted: ‘I walked out of that speech. The lies, the bigotry, and the shameless bragging about taking away food stamps that people depend on to live – it was all beneath the dignity of the office he occupies.
‘Shame on this forever impeached president.’
Trump’s speech angered Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who tore up a copy of the president’s speech at the conclusion of his remarks.