Rep. Khanna knocks Dem colleagues for not applauding child with cancer at Trump speech: 'Basic respect'
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., joins 'Fox & Friends' to discuss Democrats' favorability reaching new lows as the party continues to struggle with messaging and priorities.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., called out Democratic colleagues' refusal to stand and applaud a young cancer survivor at President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress earlier this month, telling "Fox & Friends" Tuesday that lawmakers can't abandon "basic respect" when protesting the president.
DEMOCRATS PRIVATELY REBUKE PARTY MEMBERS WHO JEERED TRUMP DURING SPEECH TO CONGRESS: REPORT
RO KHANNA: Well, I don't know why we didn't stand up for the boy with cancer at the State of the Union. I stood up… I think there's got to be basic respect for certain traditions and some degree of civility. And I just don't think – argue the facts. And by the way, we should come on more shows where we may disagree… You don't bite, don't bite. You know, it's a – I think you gotta mix it up and, you know, the reality is, there's Republicans who watch Fox, there's independents, there's Democrats. I just think we've got to be willing to say we're willing to joust. We're willing to have argument. We're willing to articulate our vision and be challenged.
Washington, DC - March 4: ?Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel is recognized by President Donald Trump as he addresses a joint session of Congress in the Capitol building's House chamber in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Khanna also discussed his party's search for a new leader, when asked about New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
KHANNA: Well, there's certainly people in the retreat who were talking about her running for the Senate in New York. That's something that she will have to decide. But there are a lot of great leaders in the party. You've got Andy Beshear, you've got Josh Shapiro, you got Gretchen Whitmer. What I think we need to do is have a compelling economic message. We need to understand manufacturing was hollowed out in this country. People lost jobs to China, to Mexico. How are we actually going to bring them back? It's not just having blanket tariffs. We need government purchase agreements for new industry. We need to get technology in Silicon Valley and every community around this country. We need financing of new steel and chips, Democrats who talk for a real economic vision.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is seen in Cannon Tunnel on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Democrats' antics during Trump's primetime address to Congress on March 4 garnered widespread criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike.
REP. JASMINE CROCKETT HITS BACK AT CRITICS OF DEMOCRATS' PUBLIC ANTICS
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., accused his own party of "a sad cavalcade of self-owns and unhinged petulance" — issuing a tweet in which he once again called out Democrats.
Trump honored 13-year-old DJ Daniel during the address, noting that Daniel, who wants to become a police officer, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018.
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"I don't know why we can't fully celebrate," Fetterman told Fox News Digital. "I mean, I have a 13-year-old myself, and thank God she's never had cancer, but I think that's something we can all celebrate there. And I think it was a touching moment. And, like I said, that's part of the best of the American experience."
Fox News' Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
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