A Democratic congressional group of women encouraged female lawmakers to wear white at the President’s State of the Union address in honor of the suffragette movement.
They also cheered when President Donald Trump touted the large number of women who have won seats in Congress, but also the fact that more women have become part of the workforce under his administration than under any other so far.
“No one has benefited more from our thriving economy than women, who have filled 58 percent of the newly created jobs last year,” he said.
Right after that comment, female Democratic lawmakers stood up and applauded, acknowledging their victories in the midterm elections. There are currently 127 female lawmakers in Congress.
Although the President remarked that they “weren’t supposed to do that,” he also added “All Americans can be proud that we have more women in the workforce than ever before.”
Democratic women stood up again after that comment, applauding one another before sitting down. President Trump used that moment to say “Don’t sit you’re going to like this” and then continued by adding that a century after women were granted the right to vote “we also have more women serving in Congress than at any time before.”
Before President Trump delivered his speech, Representative Lois Frankel, chair of the House Democratic Women’s Working Group, tweeted an image on Tuesday evening, showing members holding hands and dressed in all white ahead of the big event.
“Standing hand in hand with @HouseDemWomen wearing #Suffragette white to #SOTU as we fight #ForThePeople,” her tweet read.
“At State of the Union tonight, @realDonaldTrump will look out at the House Chamber and see a sea of #Suffragette white sending the message loud&clear that @HouseDemWomen are fighting for the economic security of women & families,” she added in a separate tweet.
Their initiative was supported by several Democratic men, who said they would also wear white in solidarity with his female colleagues.
“Proud to join House Democrats in wearing white or a white ribbon at the #SOTU to send a respectful message that we stand with women across the country and will continue to defend their rights,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
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