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Roughly one hour and forty-five minutes into the address, both congresswomen exited the chamber. Their departure came just minutes before a milestone moment in presidential history.
Five minutes after their walkout, President Trump presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to two American war heroes. It marked the first time in history that Medals of Honor were awarded during a State of the Union address.
The first recipient, Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, was honored for extraordinary bravery while piloting a Chinook helicopter during a January raid that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Despite taking four bullets, Slover maintained control of the aircraft and completed the mission.
The second honoree, retired Navy Captain Royce Williams, now 100 years old, was recognized for a once-classified 1952 Korean War dogfight in which he downed four Soviet jets while his own aircraft absorbed 263 bullet strikes. For decades, his actions remained hidden from the public due to national security concerns.
As the chamber rose to applaud the decorated veterans, the seats previously occupied by Omar and Tlaib remained empty.
The drama extended beyond the chamber floor. According to Speaker Mike Johnson, the situation nearly escalated further. “I came this close to stopping them,” Johnson told reporters afterward. “We could have probably ejected them from the floor.” In the end, he chose not to intervene, allowing the moment to unfold without additional spectacle.
Tuesday night also saw what observers described as one of the largest coordinated boycotts of a State of the Union in modern history. Roughly half of House and Senate Democrats did not attend the address. Among those absent were Minority Whip Katherine Clark, Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Instead, many gathered on the National Mall for what organizers called a “People’s State of the Union,” an event held in near-freezing temperatures and promoted by activist groups including MoveOn and MeidasTouch.
The Democrats who did attend largely remained seated throughout much of the speech, offering minimal applause. The visual contrast between the two sides was unmistakable to viewers at home.
The next day, the fallout continued on cable news. On Fox News’ “The Five,” host Greg Gutfeld weighed in sharply. “The angrier and more sullen the Dems are, the more effective and successful Trump’s policies are,” Gutfeld said.
He then directed pointed criticism at Omar, referencing her refugee background. “She has no right to that level of rage in the United States of America, the country who gave her corrupt ass a new life,” Gutfeld said.
The images from the address told a story of deep political division. For supporters of the president, the night showcased decisive leadership and a historic tribute to American valor. For critics, it underscored intense disagreement over immigration and executive policy.
But one fact remains: as two decorated veterans received the nation’s highest military honor, several prominent Democratic lawmakers were not present to witness it.
In a chamber built for debate but also ceremony, the contrast between protest and patriotism became one of the defining images of the evening.
