Sanders, Conservatives Slam 'Bizarre' Democrat SOTU Counterprogramming

Arkansas governor calls contrast between 'normal vs. crazy' political divide

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Democrats boycotted President Trump's State of the Union address and held counter-programming events, including an event called "State of the Swamp" where far-left activists dressed in animal costumes. Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other conservatives sharply criticized the Democrat events, calling them "bizarre" and a contrast between "normal vs. crazy" politics.

Why it matters

The stark divide between the two parties' approaches to the State of the Union address highlights the deep political polarization in the US, with Republicans accusing Democrats of engaging in unserious political theater rather than substantive policy discussions.

The details

At the "State of the Swamp" event, activists dressed in frog and giraffe costumes took the stage, with one giraffe-costumed protester criticizing ICE and calling Trump "pumpkin spice Satan." Sanders and other conservatives lambasted the Democrat events, with Sanders saying the contrast was between "normal vs. crazy" and the RNC calling the costumed activists "deranged Leftists." Dozens of Democrats boycotted Trump's speech to attend events like "State of the Swamp" and the "People's State of the Union."

  • On Tuesday, President Trump delivered the State of the Union address.
  • Democrats held counter-programming events, including "State of the Swamp," on the same day as Trump's speech.

The players

Sarah Huckabee Sanders

The Republican governor of Arkansas who criticized the Democrat events as contrasting "normal vs. crazy" politics.

Maxine Dexter

A Democratic U.S. Representative who appeared at the "State of the Swamp" event.

Chris Murphy

A Democratic U.S. Senator from Connecticut who spoke at the "People's State of the Union" event and called for defunding the Department of Homeland Security.

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What they’re saying

“The difference today isn't between right vs left. It's normal vs crazy.”

— Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Governor of Arkansas (X)

“These people are weird.”

— Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator (X)

“Not one more dime to the Department of Homeland Security until they start following the law in this country.”

— Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator (N/A)

What’s next

The political divide between the two parties is likely to continue as they take opposing stances on key issues, with Republicans accusing Democrats of engaging in political theater and Democrats criticizing Republican policies.

The takeaway

The contrasting approaches to the State of the Union address highlight the deep partisan divide in American politics, with Republicans portraying Democrats as out-of-touch and Democrats accusing Republicans of embracing extreme positions. The ability of the two parties to find common ground and govern effectively remains a significant challenge.