Trump’s Congressional Address: Arizona Democrats Disheartened, Republicans Elated

Arizona Democrats staged a walkout during President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday night, showing clear disapproval while Republican lawmakers praised his extended speech, which lasted an unprecedented 99 minutes. This marked Trump’s longest speech to Congress in over 60 years, and the contrast in reactions was stark.

Sen. Ruben Gallego and Rep. Yassamin Ansari, both from Phoenix, left midway through the speech after Trump labeled gender-affirming care as “child abuse.” Ansari expressed her frustration on social media, stating, “I’m absolutely devastated by the bull— that I just heard” and condemning the vitriol directed at marginalized groups.

Republicans criticized the Democrats for their lack of respect during the address. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Scottsdale, remarked that the Democrats were throwing a tantrum as Trump discussed sensible policies. This reaction came after a Texas Democrat was ejected for heckling the president, illustrating the tension in the chamber.

Trump’s rhetoric drew mixed reactions from the audience. While Gallego initially applauded claims of diminished illegal border crossings, he quickly voiced his dissent as Trump described migrants in derogatory terms. Meanwhile, Al Green, a Texas Democrat, was the first to disrupt the speech by claiming Trump had “no mandate to cut Medicaid,” leading to his removal from the chamber.

Speaker Mike Johnson announced plans to censure Green, highlighting the ongoing struggles of decorum within Congress. Notably, some Republican members jeered as Green was escorted out, a display of partisan animosity that added to the evening’s chaotic atmosphere.

Arizona Republicans lavished praise on Trump following the speech. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Tucson, commended him directly, while Arizona gubernatorial candidate Rep. Andy Biggs acknowledged the speech as a rallying cry for their party. He called it a “call to action,” emphasizing the necessity of enacting the proposed policies.

Some Arizona Democrats remained through the entire address. Sen. Mark Kelly offered brief applause during Trump’s comments on veterans but later critiqued his overall message as lacking substantive solutions. Congressman Greg Stanton noted the importance of being informed on presidential statements, regardless of personal feelings.

The speech also sparked backlash over Trump’s rejection of the CHIPS Act, a bipartisan initiative aimed at boosting the semiconductor industry that has significantly benefited Arizona’s economy. Both Gallego and Kelly expressed outrage over Trump’s comments, defending the job growth tied to the law and warning that the Trump administration’s tariffs could harm consumers.

On a lighter note, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Bullhead City, shared an AI-generated image online in response to the address, which generated some buzz but did not add to the political discourse. Meanwhile, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Tucson, remained absent from the speech but condemned Trump’s message, stating in a press release, “Trump spent the entirety of his Joint Address lying to Americans.”