Democratic political strategist David Axelrod admitted that his party reacted poorly to President Donald Trump’s speech on Tuesday.
Axelrod appeared on a CNN panel alongside other commentators on Tuesday night after Trump’s address. In a back-and-forth with CNN commentator Scott Jennings, Axelrod said Democratic lawmakers in the joint session should have been more respectful to the president and more positive toward the speech.
“I will say, I thought Democrats, I thought that was – I think there were times when they should have risen. I think what Al Green did was despicable. I liked Elissa Slotkin’s speech. I think that’s where Democrats should go,” Axelrod said.
David Axelrod: "I think there were times when [Democrats] should've risen. I think what Al Green did was despicable." pic.twitter.com/TFKj81Kjfx
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 5, 2025
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) delivered the Democrats’ response to Trump’s address. Jennings said that Slotkin’s speech, no matter how well-received it may be, will not matter because of the Democrats’ antics.
“I’m sure she is a very nice person. None of this will be remembered because this was a horrific night for the opposition party regardless of how well she just spoke,” Jennings said.
“It started out with Al Green getting thrown off the House floor because he couldn’t keep his emotions under control. Then they had the ridiculous paddles, which now social media is roasting,” he continued.
“And maybe most terribly, the Democrats who couldn’t find it in their heart to stand for objectively good things – including the 95-year-old mother of Marc Fogel and Marc, who got rescued from a Russian prison – and they couldn’t even stand up for that,” he said.
Rep. Al Green (D-TX) was removed from the chamber for refusing to stop shouting at the dias and the president after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) tried to restore decorum. After an outcry from Democrats minutes into Trump’s speech, Green refused to return to his seat.
Johnson eventually ordered the sergeant-at-arms to escort Green from the chamber.
“Finding that members continue to engage in willful and concerted disruption of proper decorum, the chair now directs the sergeant-at-arms to restore order. Remove this gentleman from the chamber,” Johnson said.
