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Democratswereexasperatedover what they called a raucous campaign-style speech from President TrumpDonald John TrumpBrad Pitt quips he has more time to give Oscars speech than John Bolton had to testify Trump under pressure to renew last nuke treaty with Russia Trump to request 6 percent domestic cuts in .8 trillion budget MORE on Tuesday night as the president made his case for reelection duringthe annual State of the Union address.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOutgoing lawmaker laments 'way more hate in this business' Sunday shows - 2020 Democrats make closing arguments in New Hampshire America's bitter divide is the true existential threat MORE (D-Calif.) appeared disgusted during much of Trumps third State of the Union address. By the end of it, she ripped up his speech and set it aside while her political nemesis was still standing on the House dais.

I tore it up, Pelosi replied when asked by reporters what she thought of the speech.

Pelosi addedthat it was "the courteous thing to do given the alternatives."

In many ways, Trumps 80-minute speechrepresented a starting gun for his reelection campaign. It was short on bipartisan policy proposals and included plenty of red meat for his base that he will need to turn out at the polls in order to propel him to a second term in November.

Trump took credit for the economic recovery and contended he had reversed American decline a line Democrats saw as a not-so-veiled shot at President Obamas eight years of growth. He also railed against "sanctuary cities" for undocumented immigrants and bragged that he was building hundred of miles of new wall along the Mexico border.

And Trump used his national platform to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a man loathed by the left: conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who just announced he has lung cancer.

If I wanted to attend a MAGA rally, I would attend a MAGA rally, fumed Sen. Chris Van HollenChristopher (Chris) Van HollenTrump under pressure to renew last nuke treaty with Russia Celebrating and expanding upon five years of the ABLE Act Trump's best week ever? MORE (D-Md.), a former House member and close Pelosi ally. The president never misses an opportunity to further divide the country. It was a disgraceful performance."

The only good moments were recognizing some of the great Americans in the balcony, but the president really turned this into a circus performance, Van Hollen said. Ive never seen a president disgrace the House of Representatives in the chamber the way President Trump did tonight.

The night started on a sour note. Trump appeared to snub Pelosi when she reached out to shake his hand.

It was downhill from there.

Trumps Republican allies in Congress cheered almost every line he delivered, kicking off the night by chanting: Four more years! Four more years!

Democrats sat on their hands for most of the night, and when they couldnt restrain themselves they groaned and yelled no and shook their heads.

Several, including Reps. Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibTlaib says she held Omar's hand during 'triggering' moments at Trump's State of the Union speech Tlaib: DNC rules committee members working on Bloomberg campaign is a 'conflict of interest' Tlaib says mention of Kavanaugh was 'trigger' to walk out of Trump speech MORE (D-Mich.), Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarTlaib says she held Omar's hand during 'triggering' moments at Trump's State of the Union speech Key House Democrat says Perez must go: 'He doesn't lead on anything' Democratstear into Trump's speech: It was a 'MAGA rally' MORE (D-Minn.) and Bill PascrellWilliam (Bill) James PascrellOn The Money: Economy adds 225K jobs in January, topping expectations | Appeals court tosses Dems' lawsuit over emoluments | Democrats decide against bringing back earmarks Democrat hits Mnuchin for giving Hunter Biden docs to Republicans Actress who voices Lisa Simpson character knocks Pompeo tweet: 'F--- you for co-opting my character' MORE (D-N.J.), stormed out midway through the speech in disgust.

I just walked out of the #StateOfTheUnion. Ive had enough. Its like watching professional wrestling. Its all fake, tweeted Rep. Tim RyanTimothy (Tim) RyanDemocratstear into Trump's speech: It was a 'MAGA rally' Democrats walk out of Trump's address: 'It's like watching professional wrestling' Trump set to confront his impeachment foes MORE (D-Ohio), a former 2020 presidential candidate.

Tuesday's address was expected to include tense moments, with Trump entering the sameHouse of Representatives that had impeached him for abuse of power and obstruction of justice only seven weeks earlier.

Though Trump never uttered a word about impeachment, sitting before him were all of the characters of the impeachment investigation and trial that have consumed Washington for the past four months.

Pelosi, who led the Democrats into the effort, was seated just above Trumps left shoulder. To his side, occupying an entire row, were the seven Democratic impeachment managers, including House Intelligence Chairman Committee Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffHouse intelligence briefing on worldwide threat assessment delayed Republicans sense momentum after impeachment win The betrayal of Democratic voters: Many 'liberals' need Trump to win MORE (D-Calif.), the lead prosecutor who had investigated the presidents Ukraine dealings for months, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold NadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerAmerica's bitter divide is the true existential threat The betrayal of Democratic voters: Many 'liberals' need Trump to win Nadler says it's 'likely' House will subpoena Bolton MORE (D-N.Y.), who had his hand on his chin for most of the night.

All the presidents men were seated on the House floor as well: acting White House chief of staff Mick MulvaneyJohn (Mick) Michael MulvaneyGroup of GOP senators tried to stop Trump from Sondland ouster: report Bill Maher to Steve Bannon: 'I wish we had someone on our side as evil as you' Trump says Mulvaney will stay on as chief of staff MORE, Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoPompeo: Competition with China 'not just a federal issue' Overnight Defense: Impeachment witness Vindman escorted from White House | Esper says Pentagon protects service members from retribution | Trump ousts EU envoy Sondland Trump ousts impeachment witness Gordon Sondland MORE and budget chief Russell Vought members of the administration who all played a role in the impeachment inquiry but never testified before the House or the Senate.

In the front row: Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who has had many late nights presiding over Trumps Senate impeachment trial for the last two weeks. That trial will wrap up at 4 p.m. Wednesday when Republican senators mostof whomattended the speech will vote to acquit Trump of both charges.

Great job, great job, a grinning Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellImpeachment fallout threatens to upend battle for Senate Why the PRO Act is a victory for workers and our democracy Buttigieg: 'We're screwed' if Democrats don't get majorities in Congress in 2020 MORE (R-Ky.) told Trump as he stepped down from the elevated dais after the speech.

The night showcased a few moments of bipartisanship, however.

Democrats and Republicans in the Problem Solvers Caucus including Reps. Dean PhillipsDean PhillipsDemocratstear into Trump's speech: It was a 'MAGA rally' Democrats gear up for State of the Union protests as impeachment lingers Biden leads 2020 pack in congressional endorsements MORE (D-Minn.), Josh GottheimerJoshua (Josh) GottheimerDemocratstear into Trump's speech: It was a 'MAGA rally' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Pelosi plans to send impeachment articles next week The lawmakers who bucked their parties on the war powers resolution MORE (D-N.J.), Tom ReedThomas (Tom) W. ReedCuccinelli: New York reintroduced 'the main problem' that allowed 9/11 New Yorkers blocked from Global Entry program over immigrant license law Democratstear into Trump's speech: It was a 'MAGA rally' MORE (R-N.Y.) and Paul MitchellPaul MitchellOvernight Health Care Presented by Partnership for America's Health Care Future House to condemn Trump plan for Medicaid block grants | Chinese doctor who warned of coronavirus dies | CDC ships coronavirus tests GOP lawmaker shreds Democratic resolution on House floor Democratstear into Trump's speech: It was a 'MAGA rally' MORE (R-Mich.) all sat together and sported purple ties. And Trump got a handful of bipartisan standing ovations, including when he touted a boost to military spending.

To safeguard American liberty, we have invested a record-breaking $2.2 trillion in the United States military, Trump said.

More visible than the men in purple ties were the women all decked out in white. Before the address, dozens of House Democratic women all sporting suffragist white packed onto a stairway in the Capitol for their annual State of the Union photo.

Several of the Democrats, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezRush Limbaugh medal an insult to Latinos, immigrants Tlaib says she held Omar's hand during 'triggering' moments at Trump's State of the Union speech The betrayal of Democratic voters: Many 'liberals' need Trump to win MORE (N.Y.), Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyTlaib says she held Omar's hand during 'triggering' moments at Trump's State of the Union speech Pressley slams trolls over alopecia comments Pramila Jayapal endorses Democrat Henry Cuellar's primary challenger MORE (Mass.) and Frederica WilsonFrederica Patricia WilsonDemocratstear into Trump's speech: It was a 'MAGA rally' Clinton advises checking your voter registration during Trump's State of the Union Ocasio-Cortez, Pressley to boycott State of the Union MORE (Fla.), were absent this year, boycotting Trumps speech altogether.

But Tlaib, one of two Muslim women in Congress, said she wanted to be on hand to show the diversity of todays Democratic caucus. Tlaib is also part of the squad, the four progressive freshman women of color who were attacked by Trump last year.

For me, it really was about trying to represent my district and be seen, Tlaib said after posing for the photo with Pelosi and other female colleagues. I think me being in the audience says volumes, especially to a president that told me to go back where I came from. Well, Im coming back to the United States House floor. ... This is the most diverse class Ive ever seen.

After Trumps stem-winder, Democrats retreated to Statuary Hall, which was packed with TV cameras and reporters and turned into a post-speech spin room. It was there that Democrats unloaded on Trump.

House Oversightand Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn MaloneyCarolyn Bosher MaloneyHouse to vote next week on bill to create women's history museum Parkland victim's father apologizes to friends, family after disrupting Trump address Democratstear into Trump's speech: It was a 'MAGA rally' MORE (D-N.Y.) ripped the speech as a lot of reality TV," while House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerHouse to vote next week on bill to create women's history museum McCarthy to submit copy of Trump's SOTU address to House Clerk for archives Pelosi-Trump relationship takes turn for the terrible MORE (D-Md.) said its rally-like tone was extremely inappropriate.

"That's not what the State of the Union's supposed to be about. It's not a political rally with some of his supporters in one of these places he goes all over the country and whips up these crowds, Hoyer lamented.

"The speech was to whip up his base, and brought up very divisive issues on which there is disagreement. So it didn't set the table for bipartisan agreement."

Mike Lillis, Cristina Marcos and Juliegrace Brufke contributed to this report, which was updated at 7:40 a.m.

Excerpt from:
Democrats tear into Trump's speech: It was a 'MAGA rally' | TheHill - The Hill