Chants of ‘USA’ after Trump says ‘America will never be a socialist country’
President Trump pledged during his State of the Union address Tuesday that “America will never be a socialist country,” sparking chants of “USA” from GOP lawmakers.
Trump, transitioning from talking about the escalating political crisis in Venezuela, said that he was “alarmed by new calls to adopt socialism in our country.”
“We are born free, and we will stay free. Tonight, we renew our resolve that America will never be a socialist country,” Trump said.{mosads}
Trump’s mention of socialism drew boos and chants of “USA, USA, USA” from Republican lawmakers.
The remarks appeared to a veiled barb at some progressive lawmakers in the audience, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who are both self-described democratic socialists.
Ocasio-Cortez was spotted smiling during Trump’s comments. Sanders, who was slated to deliver his own response to Trump’s speech after the address, sat stone-faced.
.@SenSanders reacts to Trump bashing socialism pic.twitter.com/giQanN2lZk
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 5, 2019
Congressional Democrats are in the midst of fierce debate with a newly resurgent progressive caucus about the best way to take on Trump.
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