Maggie Haberman

Right. This was Green continuing to stand, literally waving his cane, brandishing it almost as if it was a sword, essentially, and refusing to sit.

Right. This was Green continuing to stand, literally waving his cane, brandishing it almost as if it was a sword, essentially, and refusing to sit.

Despite repeated calls for him to do so by the House Speaker.

Despite repeated calls for him to do so by the House Speaker.

It was an astonishing moment. And what Greene was doing was astonishing, too. I mean, this was just a sustained protest in a chamber where decorum is valued. But both J.D.

It was an astonishing moment. And what Greene was doing was astonishing, too. I mean, this was just a sustained protest in a chamber where decorum is valued. But both J.D.

Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, both of whom, because of their roles, were seated behind the president and standing at various points, were trying to get the sergeant-at-arms attention to have that person come and eject a sitting member of Congress, which is an uncomfortable moment.

Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, both of whom, because of their roles, were seated behind the president and standing at various points, were trying to get the sergeant-at-arms attention to have that person come and eject a sitting member of Congress, which is an uncomfortable moment.

That is exactly what ends up happening. And it gave Donald Trump a moment that he clearly wanted.

That is exactly what ends up happening. And it gave Donald Trump a moment that he clearly wanted.

Trump was trying to set up this notion that whatever he does, Democrats are going to oppose it and therefore Democrats are unreasonable and bad actors. And again, this is his perspective. I'm just saying what he is trying to set up and that they are not going to endorse him no matter what.

Trump was trying to set up this notion that whatever he does, Democrats are going to oppose it and therefore Democrats are unreasonable and bad actors. And again, this is his perspective. I'm just saying what he is trying to set up and that they are not going to endorse him no matter what.

Right. So from that moment, Trump begins to describe the version of America that he defeated in 2024 in his telling and the one that he's sweeping away. And it is one that, to use a word he uses often, is woke.

Right. So from that moment, Trump begins to describe the version of America that he defeated in 2024 in his telling and the one that he's sweeping away. And it is one that, to use a word he uses often, is woke.

It's a pretty familiar list, Michael, for anyone who has listened to a Trump campaign speech. It's culture war issues.

It's a pretty familiar list, Michael, for anyone who has listened to a Trump campaign speech. It's culture war issues.

It's men who have transitioned to be women playing in women's sports. That's a big one that he focuses on.

It's men who have transitioned to be women playing in women's sports. That's a big one that he focuses on.

He focuses specifically on a young woman in the audience, Peyton McNabb.

He focuses specifically on a young woman in the audience, Peyton McNabb.