GOP Rep. Blocks Ambush Attack On Trump As He Entrered House

As President Donald Trump stepped into the chamber to address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, a tense exchange between a Democratic congresswoman and a Republican congressman quickly caught national attention.

Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico held up a sign reading “This Is NOT Normal” as Trump made his entrance.

Footage of the moment was shared on X by C-SPAN, clearly showing the sign positioned directly behind Trump as he shook hands with Republicans seated along the aisle.

According to various reports, Stansbury, who has served as the representative for New Mexico’s 1st District since 2021, was confirmed to be the individual holding the sign.

Stansbury appeared to confirm her involvement herself, making it evident that the sign was indeed hers.

On the Republican side, social media users on TikTok identified Representative Lance Gooden of Texas, who has represented the state’s 5th District since 2019, as the congressman who confronted Stansbury.

“Lol Rep. @lancegooden ripped a sign saying ‘this is not normal’ out of a Democrat’s hand as Trump walked by,” read a post circulating on the platform.

The interaction quickly spread across social media, with many mocking Stansbury’s message.

“We don’t need a sign telling us they aren’t normal,” commented Kylie Jane Kremer, a vocal Trump supporter and the executive director of Women for America First. “WE KNOW DEMOCRATS ARE NOT NORMAL!”

Stansbury’s sign wasn’t the only Democratic disruption during the early minutes of Trump’s address. Representative Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, was ejected from the chamber after shouting “you don’t have a mandate” at Trump from the floor. Green is well known for launching repeated — and often unconventional — efforts to impeach Trump during both of his terms.