No Kings Live Here: U.S. Representative Walks Out of Trump Speech in Protest
A U.S. representative from Orlando walked out of President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress in protest on Tuesday night, revealing a T-shirt critical of the president.
Rep. Maxwell Frost Reveals "No Kings Live Here" T-shirt
Rep. Maxwell Frost revealed a "No Kings Live Here" t-shirt under his jacket as he walked out of the chamber along with other Democratic members.
SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
US Representative Maxwell Frost, Democrat from Florida, wears a shirt reading "No kings live here" as he walks out of the House Chamber while US President Donald Trump speaks during an address to a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
In a statement, Frost said:
"Donald Trump is many things – a liar, a grifter, a wanna-be-dictator – but no matter how hard he tries and how many Republicans in Congress bend the knee and kiss the ring: he will never be king.
"Tonight, the American people saw a desperate liar stand in front of a podium and spit out excuse after excuse as to why he hasn’t been able to make your life better. Why he can’t make eggs cheaper, why he can’t lower housing costs, why the stock market is tanking under his watch, why innocent immigrants and trans people are to blame. All lies.
"The people of this country are seeing right through the lies. We won’t let up."
Democrats Heckle, Wave Signs, and Interrupt
Trump was heckled and disrupted by congressional Democrats in the room, who shouted at him not to cut Medicaid, waved an eclectic mix of signs to protest him, and periodically shouted antagonistically at the president.
Democrats’ Protests
Within minutes of Trump’s speech beginning, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, interrupted and heckled him, yelling, "You have no mandate to cut Medicaid." He was escorted out after refusing to stop shouting. There were other unintelligible shouts from Democrats during the speech. At another point in Trump’s speech, several Democratic members walked out of the chamber in protest.
A group of House Democrats waved signs that read "MUSK STEALS," "SAVE MEDICAID," and "PROTECT VETERANS." Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., brought a whiteboard and wrote different messages on it through Trump’s speech, including "NO KING" and "LIES."
Conclusion
The protests and walkout were a clear indication of the strong feelings of opposition to President Trump’s policies and values among Democratic lawmakers. As the party works to regroup and re-strategize after their loss in 2024, these actions serve as a reminder of the deep divisions within the country and the need for compromise and cooperation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did Rep. Maxwell Frost walk out of Trump’s speech?
A: Rep. Frost walked out of the speech to protest President Trump’s policies and to make a statement about his views on the president’s leadership.
Q: What was the content of the "No Kings Live Here" t-shirt?
A: The t-shirt was a reference to the idea that President Trump is not a king and should not be treated as such.
Q: How did other Democrats react to the speech?
A: Some Democrats heckled and interrupted the speech, while others did not attend at all. The top three Democratic leaders in each chamber attended the speech quietly and listened without disrupting the president’s remarks.
