Trump's SOTU speech 1 week ago
vs.
Trump today pic.twitter.com/VCGJjuNis5
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) February 5, 2018
Some observers also noted that Trump was rather obliquely referring to the black members of Congress with his treason remarks, as Trump said that one of them might have been a “reverend.”
In case there was any doubt Trump was talking about black members with his "treasonous" comment, he said one of them might have been a "reverend."
As of 2015, every ordained Democrat in Congress was black. (Rush, Lewis, Cleaver)https://t.co/Hu0H0sx5oB
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) February 5, 2018
Following the President’s incendiary remarks, Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) gave an interview on CNN’s New Day Tuesday morning, in which he defended Trump’s views.
“Well, no, I wouldn’t use the word ‘treasonous,'” Collins said. “But, boy, was it embarrassing.”
Collins claimed that Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL) stood up and stormed out of the room during Trump’s State of the Union, and said that such actions were childish and “partisan.”
“When Gutierrez stood up when the president said ‘we should stand and respect our flag for the pledge of allegiance, the national anthem,’ and those of us Republicans stood and cheered and started shouting ‘USA, USA,’ Gutierrez storms out of the chamber. I think that says it all when it comes to the Democrat response … They were stoic, sitting on their hands. They did not want to applaud at any turn … It was just a very partisan reaction. And I’ve sat through some of former President Obama’s [State of the Union speeches].”
However, before Collins could pat himself on the back too much, CNN’s Alisyn Camerota called him out for the hypocritical remark, showing footage of Republicans refusing to stand during Obama’s State of the Union speeches in 2010, 2013, and 2016.