Democratic Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury held up a sign directly next to President Trump that read ‘this is NOT Normal’ as he entered the House chamber.
The president was making his way through the crowd ahead of his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night when he came directly face-to-face with the New Mexico lawmaker.
The sign appeared to be handwritten in black in on a piece of white paper.
The president appeared to look directly at it.
He then rolled his eyes before turning away and continuing to greet Republican lawmakers on the opposite side of the aisle.
The 78-year-old president appeared to be talking about the sign even after looking away from it as he was seen pointing his thumb over his shoulder has he spoke to another GOP lawmaker.
Watch:
As President Trump was walking by, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) held up a sign that said “this is not normal.”
Then, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) ripped it out of her hands. pic.twitter.com/ZNFAU4yuIY
— Yashar Ali
(@yashar) March 5, 2025
According to DailyMail.com’s lip reader Nicola Hickling, Trump said ‘this ain’t normal. She isn’t great to work with at all.’
Stansbury continued to hold the sign in the background behind Trump without speaking until it was ripped directly out of her hands.
Congressman Lance Gooden (R-Texas) was spotted reaching clear across the aisle and snatching it from her hand as the president continued forward.
After she held up the sign to the president, Stansbury also posted on X an image of her standing with it beside the president with the caption ‘This is not normal.’
Stansbury was also wearing pink on Tuesday night which was part of a coordinated protest by Democratic women lawmakers.
Stansbury represents New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District and has served in the House since 2021.
The New Mexico congresswoman was not the only Democrat to hold up a sign during the joint session.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) had a whiteboard with her in the chamber where she held up a series of messages including ‘that’s a lie!’ while Trump was speaking.
She also wrote ‘start by paying your taxes’ and held it up while the president spoke.
At the same time, multiple Democrats also held up signs that read ‘Save Medicaid’ ‘False’ and ‘Musk Steals.’
