During the February 24 State of the Union address, President Donald Trump took aim at Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, sharply criticizing their conduct during his speech in a post on his social platform, Truth Social.
Trump’s comments centered on what he characterized as what he called “uncontrollable” behavior by the two lawmakers. “When you watch Low IQ Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, as they screamed uncontrollably last night at the very elegant State of the Union, such an important and beautiful event,” Trump wrote, adding that they had “the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick who, frankly, look like they should be institutionalized.”
In that same post, Trump went on to describe the two Democrats,, as “Crooked and Corrupt Politicians” and said they were “so bad for our Country” that they should be “sent back from where they came — as fast as possible,” a phrasing he used alongside references to other public figures he described unfavorably.
The remarks followed a sequence of interruptions by Omar (D-Minn.) and Tlaib (D-Mich.) during the televised address, which Trump and others characterized as disruptions. According to reporting from Axios, lawmakers including Omar and Tlaib shouted during portions of the speech, defying guidance from House Democratic leadership to remain silent or abstain from demonstrative conduct.
Video from the speech shows moments in which Republicans stood and applauded after Trump asked members to rise in support of the government’s duty to protect American citizens, a move that preceded vocal objections from some Democratic lawmakers. In some clips, Omar is heard shouting, “You have killed Americans,” during a segment in which Trump discussed immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies, while Tlaib joined in with comments reflecting her opposition.
Prior to the Trump Truth Social post, coverage of events in the chamber highlighted that tension extended beyond a single exchange. Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted out of the chamber early in the address for displaying a protest sign referencing a racist video previously shared on social media, drawing additional attention to partisan conflict in the room.
Responses to Trump’s call for Omar and Tlaib to be “institutionalized” were visible almost immediately across social platforms. Many critics labeled the language inflammatory and criticized what they saw as an attack on elected lawmakers rather than a policy disagreement. Others echoed the president’s frustration with what they characterized as perceived breaches of decorum during a formal address. Online reaction threads showed a wide range of perspectives, from calls for mutual decorum to sharp partisan rhetoric in both directions.
CNN’s reporting on the aftermath noted that Omar defended her actions in an interview, saying that she felt compelled to speak out because “his administration was responsible for killing two of my constituents,” referring to recent deaths during federal immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota, and described her behavior as “unavoidable.”
Trump’s remarks and the exchanges in the chamber unfolded against an already polarized political backdrop. In the hours that followed, both parties framed the incident through sharply different lenses, extending the State of the Union confrontation beyond the House floor and into the broader 2026 campaign cycle.
Featured image via You tube screengrab
[…] Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), writing that they appeared “lunatics, mentally deranged and sick” during his recent State of the Union address and suggesting that all three — Omar, Tlaib and De […]