Rashida Tlaib at Center of Fiery State of the Union Clash as President Calls for Lawmakers to Be Sent 'Back From Where They Came'

President Donald Trump escalated a confrontation with Democratic lawmakers after the State of the Union, singling out Rep. Ilhan Omar and rashida tlaib in a harsh social media post that said they should be sent "back from where they came. " The exchange — sparked by heckling in the House chamber during remarks on immigration and a fraud investigation — widened into broader partisan fallout and prompted public condemnations and alternative Democratic events.

Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar: What happened in the chamber

The clash began during the president’s remarks on curbing illegal immigration and a fraud investigation involving the Somali community in Minnesota. After the president declared that Democrats should be "ashamed, " Rep. Ilhan Omar shouted, "You should be ashamed!" At one point Rep. Rashida Tlaib yelled, "Liar!" Both lawmakers continued to heckle the president and later shouted, "You have killed Americans!" — an apparent reference to the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of federal immigration agents in Minnesota last month. Omar and Tlaib left the House chamber later in the address.

Rep. Sarah McBride was also seen shouting during the speech. Rep. Norma Torres held a sign displaying photos of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed by immigration agents in Minneapolis in January.

President’s social media post and inclusion of Robert De Niro

In a follow-up social media post, the president attacked Omar and Tlaib with personal insults, calling them "Low IQ, " saying they "should be institutionalized, " and describing them as having "the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick" when they shouted during his speech. He wrote that "we should send them back from where they came — as fast as possible, " adding that "They can only damage the United States of America, they can do nothing to help it. "

The president also criticized actor Robert De Niro, who had spoken critically at a Democratic counter-programming event. The post suggested Omar and Tlaib "should actually get on a boat" with De Niro and labeled De Niro "another sick and demented person" with an "extremely Low IQ, " further accusing some of his statements of being "seriously CRIMINAL. " Spokespersons for Omar and De Niro did not immediately respond. A spokesperson for Tlaib pointed to the congresswoman’s recent post on a social platform, which stated, "Can’t take two Muslimas talking back and correcting him so now he is crashing out. "

Democratic pushback, alternative events and the Epstein files

Democratic reaction extended beyond the chamber. The official Democratic response was delivered from Colonial Williamsburg by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who predicted voters would reject what she called the administration’s "chaos" in November and accused the president of enriching himself, his family and friends. Spanberger cited what she described as an unprecedented scale of corruption and referenced a cover-up of the Epstein files, crypto scams, and cozying up to foreign princes and billionaires, saying this was not what the nation’s founders envisioned.

Many House Democrats staged walkouts and boycotts; the Democratic gallery was partially empty as lawmakers attended or spoke at alternative events including an outdoor "People’s State of the Union" on the National Mall and a "State of the Swamp" event at the National Press Club that featured rebuttals from lawmakers and remarks by Robert De Niro. More than a dozen House Democrats invited survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as guests, and Rep. Tlaib shouted, "How about those Epstein files?" Some prominent Democrats wore pins urging the administration to release all of the Epstein files.

House leaders’ reactions, ejections and broader context

House Democratic leaders at an issues retreat in Virginia condemned the president’s social media post. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the post "disgraceful, " adding that the president’s xenophobic rhetoric was "disgraceful, unpresidential, unpatriotic and UN American, " and said that the conduct was on full display for the American people. Rep. Pete Aguilar defended Omar and Tlaib, saying they are "in touch with the pulse of their communities" and stressing that they are U. S. citizens and duly elected office holders who return frequently to their districts.

The earlier commotion in the chamber followed the ejection of Rep. Al Green for the second straight year after he waved a sign reading "Black People Aren’t Apes!" The sign referenced a video the president had posted that depicted former President Barack Obama and the former first lady as apes; the president removed that video after widespread bipartisan condemnation but said he would not apologize.

Statements from lawmakers and remaining uncertainties

Omar later posted on a social platform, "I said what I said. I had to remind Trump that his administration was responsible for killing two of my constituents. " The broader assertion that the president’s anti-immigration rhetoric and hardline border policies have drawn criticism is present in the public discussion, but the provided context is unclear in how that point was further characterized. The final portion of one account is also truncated and unclear in the provided context.