Just minutes into President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, political tensions flared as Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) held up a protest sign reading “This Is Not Normal.”
Dressed in pink along with other members of the Democratic Women's Caucus, Stansbury stood along the aisle as Trump entered the chamber, raising the sign toward television cameras.
However, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) quickly intervened, grabbing the sign from her hands and tossing it into the air. The exchange happened just feet away from the president, though it’s unclear if he noticed the brief clash.
Despite the incident, Stansbury remained defiant, later posting a photo of herself holding the sign on socials with the caption: "This is not normal. We will resist." The moment gained widespread attention on social media, sparking both praise and criticism.
Why were Democrat women wearing pink?
The Democratic Women’s Caucus coordinated the display as a form of “power and protest” against Trump’s policies. At least 30 Democratic women, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, were seen wearing pink outfits during the event.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), chair of the caucus, explained the choice:
"We stand united in our fury at how Trump and Republicans are harming women and families at every turn to give tax breaks to billionaires. Everything Trump has done has raised costs for America’s women."
Vice Chair Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) echoed the sentiment, saying:
"We’re standing together in pink—the color of the Women’s March, the color of persistence—as we continue to fight for our rights. This is a movement by, for, and about women."
Who is Melanie Stansbury?
Rep. Melanie Stansbury represents New Mexico’s First Congressional District and has served in Congress since 2021. She sits on the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, focusing on water issues, poverty, and climate change.
Before joining Congress, Stansbury worked as:
- A STEM educator and researcher on land and water issues
- A staffer on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
- A policy advisor in the White House Office of Management and Budget
Recently, Stansbury gained attention for challenging Elon Musk and Trump’s administration over policies she claimed were dismantling the federal government. She accused them of misusing the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for political and financial gain.
As a result, the Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), a nonpartisan watchdog group, named her “February 2025 Porker of the Month” for opposing cost-cutting proposals within DOGE.
Democrats’ plans to protest Trump’s speech
Ahead of Trump’s speech, several House Democrats planned protests to show their opposition. Some considered walking out during his address, while others invited guests impacted by recent layoffs and federal budget cuts under the Trump administration.
A House Democrat told Axios:
"The part that we all agree on is that this is not business as usual, and we want to find a way—productively—to express our outrage."
Trump’s address marked his first major speech to Congress since returning to the presidency in January, setting the stage for what is expected to be a deeply divided political climate in Washington.
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