WATCH: Omar Pushes Fox Reporter, Refuses to Answer Questions
A determined Fox News journalist stood his ground despite being shoved by "Squad" Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) after she and other Democratic leaders refused to explain their decision to remain seated during some of President Donald Trump’s most widely supported moments.
Johnny Belisario, reporting live from the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, persistently questioned Democrats who had been caught on camera sitting motionless while Republicans applauded Trump’s promise to protect women’s sports and the grieving mother of Laken Riley.
As Belisario pressed lawmakers for answers, many Democratic senators and representatives scrambled toward elevators and office doors, dodging his inquiries. Omar, appearing the most agitated, shoved the Fox News reporter away from the elevator doors as he attempted to ask her why she had refused to stand.
“You need to move,” the congresswoman snapped, pushing Belisario and quickly shutting the elevator doors. “Have a good day! I need to go to a meeting.”
Other Democrats, including Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Adam Schiff of California, dismissed the notion that Trump had said anything worth standing for—even moments honoring the parents of Laken Riley, who was tragically murdered by an illegal immigrant, or DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old cancer survivor whom Trump named an honorary Secret Service agent.
“The president got before the American people and didn’t talk about how he’ll drive down grocery prices,” Booker stated as he rushed to a meeting. Schiff (D-CA) curtly responded, “There was nothing the president said that was factual or truthful,” before slipping into a private room behind his aides.
Some Democrats outright denied any wrongdoing.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, or where you got that information,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota responded when Belisario questioned her about her lack of applause throughout Trump’s speech.
One bizarre moment occurred when Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), seated in a wheelchair, rocked back and forth as the Fox journalist inquired about his stance on "women in sports."
“Shorts? They should not be in shorts,” Cohen replied, feigning confusion before wheeling himself into an elevator.
However, not all Democrats dismissed concerns about their conduct. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania acknowledged that their behavior on national television did not present "the best look."
WATCH:
A week after the address, Fetterman took to social media to criticize his party.
“A sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance. It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained. We’re becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to—and it may not be the winning message,” he wrote in a post on X.
During Trump’s speech, several Democratic lawmakers held up protest signs displaying messages like “FALSE,” “SAVE MEDICAID,” “PROTECT VETERANS,” and “MUSK STEALS.” Early into Trump’s remarks, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) stood up and began shouting that the president lacked a "mandate" from voters, leading House Speaker Mike Johnson to have him escorted from the chamber.
Some Democrats skipped the event altogether, while others staged walkouts mid-speech.
“The Democrats should lose the Midterms based on their behavior at last night’s Joint Address to Congress,” Trump stated in a Wednesday post on Truth Social.
Trump further declared that “Republicans should utilize the footage provided on the total disrespect they showed to all of those that were honored that night, including young ladies who were killed by illegal migrants, people with terminal cancer, etc. They didn’t even have the common courtesy to stand, smile, or applaud. This could be, on analyzing the full tape of this Historic Event, your full CAMPAIGN TO VICTORY! In other words, Republicans can take what happened last night, and win any Race in the Country.”