While President Trump was inside the Capitol laying out his agenda for the country, Senator Chris Murphy decided to hold his own competing event on the National Mall. It did not quite go according to script.
Murphy joined other Democrats at what organizers called the “People’s State of the Union,” an alternative rally backed by the advocacy group MoveOn.org. The idea was simple. If you do not like what President Trump is saying inside the House chamber, go outside and offer a different message.
But as Murphy was introducing a guest speaker, a Trump supporter briefly stole the spotlight.
“She came here to the United States to speak truth to power, to explain the trials and tribulations that every immigrant, that every refugee, goes through to get here and to press this country,” Murphy said, setting up remarks from Fereshteh Ganjavi, founder of the Connecticut nonprofit Elena’s Light.
At that moment, a man in a red hat and green hooded sweatshirt rushed toward the stage and shouted, “Go Trump.”
"Go Trump! Hey, Murphy, you're a scumbag."
A patriot just crashed the stage at Chris Murphy's protest outside the State of the Union. 🤣pic.twitter.com/1kN3qYSqhR
— CJ Pearson (@Cjpearson) February 25, 2026
Murphy’s response was surprisingly calm. “Thanks, man. Thanks, buddy,” he said as security quickly moved in and escorted the protester away. The interruption was brief, and the rally resumed, but the symbolism was hard to miss.
Inside the Capitol, President Trump was outlining his administration’s priorities, emphasizing border enforcement, economic growth, and what he calls a return to law and order. Republicans repeatedly rose to their feet in support. Outside, Democrats and progressive activists focused heavily on immigration and social policy, arguing that the administration’s enforcement policies are too aggressive.
Murphy has been a consistent critic of President Trump’s approach to immigration. He chose not to attend the State of the Union address, opting instead to stand with activists on the Mall. His invited guest, Ganjavi, leads an organization that helps refugee women and children integrate into American life. The contrast between the two events was deliberate.
Yet even at a rally designed to counter President Trump’s message, the president’s supporters made their presence known. The outburst did not derail the event, but it served as a reminder that the political divide in Washington is not confined to one building.
On one side of Pennsylvania Avenue, the president was defending tougher enforcement and deportation policies to loud applause. On the other side, critics were arguing for a more expansive approach to immigration.
The brief shout of “Go Trump” cut through the competing narratives and underscored a basic reality. President Trump’s support remains energized and vocal, even in spaces dominated by his opponents. In today’s political climate, there is no such thing as a closed echo chamber for long.
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