Anger Swamps Democrats' Trump Speech Strategy...

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by Nicholas Wu and Ben Jacobs at Politico

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wanted a “solemn” response to President Donald Trump’s congressional address Tuesday. His members had other ideas.

Moments after Trump began speaking, Texas Rep. Al Green rose and interrupted the president until he was ejected from the chamber. Other members held signs blasting Trump and his policies. Repeatedly they met Trump’s partisan provocations with chants and jeers. Many simply walked out of the chamber, leaving the Democratic section increasingly empty as the speech went on.

The minority party is still trying to find its footing and a winning message after losing control of government last fall, and the protests and walkouts underscored just how difficult it will be for Democratic congressional leaders to effectively harness the anger of their party’s voters, activists and elected officials.

Jeffries and other party leaders have counseled a measured approach, one focused on the impacts of Trump’s policies — particularly the cuts being undertaken by billionaire ally Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency. Lawmakers were encouraged ahead of the speech to emphasize the effects of Trump and Musk’s overhaul of the federal government and to bring guests impacted by the House GOP budget blueprint or by Musk’s actions.

Some of the Democratic protests were largely in line…