Dems groan as Trump mentions migrant caravans in State of the Union

by Jordain Carney - 02/05/19 9:47 PM ET

Congressional Democrats audibly groaned as President Trump pivoted during his State of the Union speech to talk about migrant caravans heading toward the United States.

Trump urged Congress to end illegal immigration and put the “ruthless coyotes, cartels, drug dealers and human traffickers out of business.”

“Large, organized caravans are on the march to the United States,” Trump said.

The rhetoric earned him groans from Democrats in the House chamber, who have accused Trump of using the caravans to stir up the Republican base.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) put up her hand in an apparent signal for Democrats to back off from the audible pushback.

But other Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.), were spotted reacting throughout the chamber. Others immediately took to social media to fire back at Trump.