(NEXSTAR) – As President Donald Trump entered the room Tuesday night, preparing to address both houses of Congress, he shook hands with Republicans lined up to see him.
Just over the president’s shoulder, you may have spotted a small, handwritten sign. It read, “This is NOT Normal,” in black ink.
The sign was held up by Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat representing New Mexico’s 1st District in the House of Representatives, which covers the Albuquerque area.
A few seconds later, as Trump makes his way down the line of supporters, you can see the sign ripped out of Stansbury’s hands by Lance Gooden, a House Republican from Texas. Stansbury continues to stand, not clapping, as Trump makes his way toward the dais.
Stansbury, a New Mexico native, first took national office in 2021, filling a seat vacated when Rep. Deb Haaland was tapped as former President Joe Biden’s Secretary of the Interior.
Before joining the House of Representatives, she served in the state legislature as a Senate committee staffer and in the White House Office of Management and Budget. Her platform positions include protecting natural resources, fighting climate change and addressing food insecurity.
Since Trump took office in January, Stansbury has advocated for containing the measles outbreak (which is growing in New Mexico) and protecting programs serving Native American tribes.
Stansbury wasn’t the only Democrat to protest Trump’s speech. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was removed from the chamber by the House sergeant-at-arms after he stood up and heckled the president during his remarks.
Another group of House Democrats turned their backs during the speech, revealing messages directed at the president written on the backs of their black t-shirts. Some read “RESIST” and another said “No Kings live here,” the Hill reported. They then walked out of the chamber of their own accord.
As the speech went on for more than an hour, other Democrats also left the room. The remarks ultimately clocked in at 99 minutes.
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