Elizabeth Warren Storms The Senate To Take On Spineless Republicans: ‘Where Are You?’

Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:54 pm

During a protest of Donald Trump’s recent Muslim ban by Senate Democrats, Sen. Elizabeth Warren stormed the floor of the U.S. Senate to ask her Republican colleagues to show some backbone and stand up to the new president.

Warren rattled off a list of Republicans who voiced opposition to Trump’s Muslim ban during the campaign, including Vice President Mike Pence, and asked why they aren’t standing up to him today.

“Where are you?” she said after calling out GOP leaders that are silent now but opposed Trump’s proposal during the campaign.

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

Video:

Warren said:

Donald Trump is doing exactly what he said he was going to do. During his presidential campaign, he promised “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” That’s what he said. And last year, it seemed like pretty much everyone agreed that this was not acceptable in the United States of America. Speaker Paul Ryan declared that “a religious test for entering our country is not reflective of America’s fundamental values. I reject it.” So where are you now Paul Ryan? Have you rejected President Trump’s order to impose “a religious test for entering our country?” Have you introduced a bill to overturn it? You have the power. Where are you? As governor of Indiana, Vice President Mike Pence said that “calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offesnive and unconstitutional.” So where are you right now, Vice President Pence? Have you called to overturn President Trump’s “offensive and unconsitutional” order? Have you asked Republicans to introduce a bill to overturn it? You have a platform. Where are you? And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called a Muslim ban “completely and totally inconsistent with American values. So where are you right now, Mitch McConnell? Have you rejected President Trump’s Muslim ban that is “completely and totally inconsistent with American values?” Have you introduced a bill to overturn it? You have the power. Where are you?

“President Trump ignored these Republican leaders and today these Republican leaders will not stand up for what is right,” Warren added.

While Trump’s executive order targeting Muslims and refugees is now a stain on America’s image, it has had the consequence of uniting millions of people around the globe and bringing Democrats together in total opposition to the new president.

During what is typically considered the honeymoon phase of a presidency, the new administration generally attempts to unite the country, particularly following a bitter election contest.

Instead, Trump decided to burn all of his bridges and move forward on his most offensive and divisive campaign proposals. His decision has united and mobilized Democrats to fight his dangerous agenda at every turn and it has driven his already-high negative ratings even further into the ground.

As Sen. Warren said Monday night on the Senate floor, these actions will not be ignored by Democrats in Congress or by the American people, and it’s already clear that they will stand up to him at every turn.

“President Trump may be willing to ignore the Consitution and the laws of the United States of America, and the Republican leadership in Congress may be willing to ignore the Consitution and the laws of the United States of America, but the American people are not,” she said.

Sean Colarossi

Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.