Freedom Caucus threatens Trump hecklers with censure

• There is considerable internal division within the Democratic caucus about whether to use more disruptive tactics or stick to traditional, silent protest.
• House Democratic leadership has urged its members not to bring props into the House chamber.

What they're saying: "The President's address to tonight's joint session of Congress is a constitutional obligation — not a sideshow for Democrats to use noisemakers, make threats, throw things or otherwise disrupt," the Freedom Caucus' board said in a statement.

• "Our colleagues are on notice that the heckler's veto will not be tolerated. You will be censured," they continued.
• The right-wing group also warned that they "expect the Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police to take appropriate action against any Members of Congress or other persons violating House rules."

Between the lines: Heckling and disruptions have become increasingly common during State of the Union addresses and other speeches to joint sessions of Congress in recent years.

• Rep. Joe Wilson's (R-S.C.) shouting "you lie" during then-President Obama's address in 2009 was considered a shocking breach of decorum at the time.
• Biden was repeatedly heckled by Republicans at his State of the Union addresses, with one Republican guest even getting arrested in 2024 for yelling at Biden about the 2021 Kabul airport bombing.
• Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — both members of the Freedom Caucus at the time — chanted "build the wall" during Biden's address in 2022.