State of the Union 2023: MTG tries to steal spotlight from ‘liar’ Biden
Cami Mondeaux
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All eyes were on Joe Biden Tuesday night as the president delivered a winding and, at times, tense State of the Union speech.
His lines on China, immigration, and entitlement programs prompted boos and jeers from Republicans in the audience, making this year’s address one of the most lively and contentious in recent memory.
STATE OF THE UNION 2023: MTG CALLS BIDEN ‘LIAR’ DURING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE REMARKS
But not all of the attention focused on Biden, as one of his most outspoken detractors, firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), sought her own share of the spotlight by yelling out during Biden’s remarks and staging her own not-so-subtle protests.
Her antics stand in contrast to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who vowed not to “play games” during Biden’s address. If Greene was the attack dog, then McCarthy played the role of the statesman, appearing largely stoic behind Biden during the hourlong speech and even shushing Greene and her colleagues multiple times.
Greene first caught the attention of social media users for wearing a white fur coat to the address, with many comparing the Georgia Republican to Cruella de Vil. The ensemble was reminiscent of protests in previous State of the Union addresses in which female Democratic lawmakers wore white as a tribute to the suffragette movement.
Greene also attracted headlines in the hours leading up to Biden’s speech for suggesting she would bring a white balloon to the House chamber, a reference to Biden’s handling of the Chinese surveillance balloon that flew over the United States last week. Greene was among the first Republicans to criticize Biden for not shooting down the suspected surveillance device immediately.
The balloon stunt elicited criticism from some of Greene’s colleagues, including Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), who seemingly mocked the idea.
“Well, I won’t be bringing a white helium balloon [to the speech], if that’s what you’re asking,” Boebert told the Hill on Tuesday when asked if she was planning any kind of symbolic protest during Biden’s address.
Greene continued her antics as she heckled Biden from the crowd on several occasions, at one point yelling, “China’s spying on us!” as the president addressed his administration’s efforts to strengthen national security.
Also during the speech, Biden resurfaced claims that “some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset every five years.” That comment prompted the night’s loudest outcry from Republicans and a single-word response from Greene: “Liar!”
Greene’s outbursts are typical for the firebrand lawmaker. She interrupted Biden’s first State of the Union by blaming the president for the deaths of 13 U.S. soldiers during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
But this time, Greene’s comments were met with shushes from McCarthy, a close ally who relied on Greene’s support to secure the gavel in his bid for speaker.
“We’re members of Congress,” McCarthy told CNN ahead of the speech. “We have a code of ethics of how we should portray ourselves — that’s exactly what we’ll do.”
“We’re not going to be doing childish games, tearing up a speech,” he added, taking a jab at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) own 2020 State of the Union stunt.
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McCarthy later defended Republicans’ actions during the Tuesday address, arguing Biden was “trying to goad the members” and that “members are passionate about it.” Greene also justified her comments, rejecting criticism that she took Biden’s “bait.”
“I didn’t take any bait,” Greene told CNN. “As a matter of fact, I got so many messages from people in my district and people across the country, it was like I won my election again. You know what, people are pissed off.”