WASHINGTON – It’s been years since Oklahoma’s congressional delegation showed off its political muscle so much, and it may be very short-lived if Democrats win the House this fall.
Front and center at the State of the Union was Sen. James Lankford; on the aisle was Sen. Markwayne Mullin and arrayed with the House leadership behind Mullin were Reps. Kevin Hern, chair Republican Policy Committee, Tom Cole, chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Stephanie Bice, chair of the Committee of House Administration, Frank Lucas, chair of the House Committee of Agriculture, and Josh Brecheen, chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.
The evening contained moments of confrontation, including a brief clash between Mullin and U.S. Rep. Al Green from Texas just before the speech. As Green held up a protest sign, videos show Mullin unsuccessfully attempting to grab the sign away from him. Green walked out of the chamber during the speech, still holding up his sign.
Following the address, Mullin claimed the night as a victory for “common sense,” specifically pointing to drops in gasoline prices and economic stabilization. He credited the Trump administration with reversing the “high inflation” and “open-border” policies of the previous administration.
“Real wages are up, inflation is dropping to pre-COVID levels, we’ve seen border crossings drop to zero, we’ve ended Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, ended taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security, secured the largest tax cuts in American history, our enemies fear us, and gasoline is now available under $2,” Mullin said.
While Mullin praised the president’s message, he had no patience for Green’s disruption on the House floor, offering a blunt assessment of Green’s actions.
“Al Green is an idiot who does nothing but political theater. This is why he’s going to lose his primary next week. Even my kids know there’s a time and a place for everything, that wasn’t the time or the place for that kind of behavior from him,” Mullin said.
Democrat members in attendance showed their dissent for President Trump through strategic walkouts, wearing protest pins and attending the “People’s State of the Union” that took place outside the U.S. Capital. More than 70 Democrats did not attend the speech in protest of Trump’s policies.
The speech acted as a platform for Trump to confront the opposition to his policies. The House chamber’s atmosphere was sharp with partisan tension. Supporters of the Trump administration frequently erupted in rounds of standing ovations for Trump.
The address contained more than moments of tension, as there were moments of unity. The entire chamber found common ground in cheering for figures of national pride, such as the United States gold medal-winning hockey team, along with newly appointed Medal of Honor recipients. Sen. Lankford took a moment to acknowledge these moments.
“The cheering for the Olympic hockey team was epic and just loud and long-lasting. But so was it for the Medal of Honor winners that the president actually put out last night. The 100-year-old fighter pilot from World War II and from the Korean War who literally took on the Soviets in the Korean War in an air fight and took down four Soviet aircraft during that dogfight,” Lankford said. “It was remarkable to be able to hear how loud the response was during that.”
Cole focused on today being the “golden age” in America. Cole pointed to border security as a Trump administration success.
“At the border, we have seen a complete one-eighty, as illegal ‘getaways’ are down by 95 percent and migrant crossings are down by 99.99 percent. Rampant crime and disorder are turning into safer communities,” Cole said.
Bice also supports Trump administration policies, including tax cuts, a closed southern border and economic efforts she says led to cheaper gas and higher wages for Oklahomans.
“The president highlighted the real benefits that all Oklahomans will feel. This includes cheaper gas, higher wages, and more money in your pockets. Over the last year, we voted to extend the largest tax cuts in American history, closed our southern border, and worked to get our country back on track,” Bice said in her response to Trump’s lengthy address.
Hern said the Trump administration’s financial policies are providing relief for families who need it. In a statement after the address, he pointed to the economic benefits for his constituents.
“Families are now seeing historic tax relief, lower inflation, a secure border, and peace around the world – this is only the beginning,” Hern said.
Responses were also offered by candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma gubernatorial race. Attorney General Gentner Drummond highlighted his office’s tactical cooperation with federal authorities to work toward “a safer Oklahoma.”
“I’ve worked alongside Trump’s administration to keep Oklahoma families safe-shutting down Mexican cartels and dismantling Chinese crime syndicates operating in our state. That’s what happens when leaders are serious about law and order,’ Drummond said.
Candidate for governor and former Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall said the state’s economic and cultural strength is directly tied to Trump’s “America first” policies.
“When America First and Oklahoma First move together, our state grows stronger and our country becomes more secure. I will continue leading with proven conservative principles and delivering real results for the people of Oklahoma,” McCall said.
House Democratic Leader and gubernatorial candidate Cyndi Munson has not released a formal statement in response to the State of the Union address.
Gaylord News is a reporting project of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. For more stories by Gaylord News go to GaylordNews.net.
