By Jimmy LaRoue

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Reaction is coming in from Virginia and North Carolina legislators to President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday.

While Republicans gave rousing applause to much of Trump’s speech, Democrats mostly sat in silence, holding up small signs in opposition — some of them saying “Musk steals,” “save Medicaid” and “protect veterans.” However, one Democrat, Rep. Al Green of Texas, was removed from the House chamber after interrupting Trump’s address.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said in a post on X that “Al Green is a disgrace.” He said in another post on X that “Democrats refused to stand to honor a child cancer survivor, a freed hostage from Russia and his 95-year-old mother, and the mother of a homicide victim. That says a heck of a lot more about today’s Democratic Party than President Trump.”

The president declared early in his speech that “America is back.”

Tillis called Trump’s agenda a bold one.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin posted to Facebook the following morning, saying that “America is back.”

“America is back. Promises made, Promises kept. Last night, President Trump reported on his historic 6-weeks. Common-sense prevails. A secure border, energy dominance, driving out fraud, waste and abuse in the federal government, Israeli hostages freed, boys out of girls sports, catching terrorists and violent criminals, massive-investment in America. Yes, America is back.” — Gov. Glenn Youngkin

Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans said during the speech that “when I’m back in Hampton Roads, the top issue people tell me they want to see tackled is the cost of living” and said that House Republicans are working with the president “to enact commonsense policies to unleash America’s economy and support Virginia families.”

She also expressed support for Trump comments about the border and the Navy.

“It turns out that when you take action to secure the border, illegal border crossings PLUMMET…! In February, we saw the lowest number of crossings in 25 years. ICE arrests of illegal immigrants have increased over 600% from when [former President] Biden was in charge. In one month, Republicans have delivered our promise of securing our border.”

On the Navy, Kiggans said that “restoring military deterrence on the world stage starts with a strong U.S. Navy. [The president] is right, we must invest in our shipbuilding and ship repair industries to increase the strength and size of our Navy…!”

Republican Rep. Rob Wittman, in a statement, said the president “articulated how the administration will continue to restore our nation’s border security, get deadly fentanyl off our streets and lower energy prices for American families. His full statement is below:

“After four years of sky-high gas prices and a porous southern border, tonight, President Trump articulated how the administration will continue to restore our nation’s border security, get deadly fentanyl off our streets, and lower energy prices for American families. I’m proud that Congress has already passed and the president has already signed into law the Laken Riley Act, a meaningful piece of legislation that received bipartisan support.

“As we move forward, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do what the people elected us to do: get the work of the nation done. In 2025, my legislative priorities will be to lower the cost of living, enhance public safety, and set our children up for success. I look forward to advancing my legislation to ensure government accountability, support our veterans, expand access to affordable higher education and technical training, and conserve our precious natural resources.

“I am committed to working with my colleagues to advance these priorities as we strive to create a safer, more prosperous future for all Virginians and all Americans. And I will always put the needs and interests of Virginia’s First District first.”— Rep. Rob Wittman

However, Democratic legislators expressed concern about how Trump’s executive orders and initiatives will affect people, with Sen. Mark Warner calling it “the worst State of the Union I’ve ever heard,” though technically, it was not a State of the Union address.

“This speech is a whole lot of talk to cover up the truth: prices are up under Trump,” Warner said on X in one of several posts opposing aspects of the president’s speech. “He hasn’t been able to deliver on his biggest promise. And with his reckless tariffs, things are about to get a whole lot worse.”

Warner brought Ashley Ranalli with him as his guest for Trump’s address, noting that Ranalli lost her job and health insurance because of what he said was the cruelty of Trump and Elon Musk, who is heading the effort by the Department of Government Efficiency to make cuts to agencies and find savings in government.

“These mass layoffs aren’t bureaucrats,” Warner said. “They are humans with passions, families and lives.”

Warner, in a statement, said:

“Tonight, President Trump touted policies that are raising prices for Americans, draining our federal workforce, illegally threatening government programs and benefits, and terrorizing the immigrant communities that have shaped Virginia. The president bragged about his reckless plan to isolate America from its allies, turn our back on long-kept partnerships, raise taxes on hardworking families, and reverse historic advancements in U.S. innovation and competition. Our country can – and should – do better. I will continue doing everything I can to fight for Virginians.”— Sen. Mark Warner

Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott said that “Trump made it abundantly clear what his priorities are and will always be — his own self-interest, and he wants Americans to pay for it.”

In a statement, Scott said the president has not offered reasonable or concrete solutions to problems Americans face.

“Four years after inciting a mob to attack the United States Capitol, President Trump returned to these historic halls to continue his mission: sow chaos and enrich himself and his billionaire friends at cost to the American people.

“To date, President Trump has yet to offer any reasonable or concrete solutions to the real problems Americans are facing.  Through all the chaos and confusion, President Trump has saved no money, nor made government more efficient.  Instead of lowering costs, Trump is raising costs by starting a trade war with our neighbors, ensuring that groceries, gas, home construction, and the costs of other goods will go up.  Simultaneously, he is cutting programs that Americans rely on and have already paid into, threatening health care access, and undermining the future of public education – all to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected.

“Over the course of six weeks, President Trump has empowered Elon Musk – an unelected billionaire – to take a chainsaw to the core functions of the federal government, leaving thousands of civil service workers jobless.  These workers, many of whom were fired without notice or cause, are not ‘nameless bureaucrats’ – they are disproportionately veterans, and provide important services in their positions such as park rangers, law enforcement, and medical personnel. 

“That is why I invited Alexzandria Hunt, a retired Army veteran who was a supply technician at the Hampton V.A. Medical Center, as my guest to the address. She is a constituent of mine who was working hard to ensure other veterans in Hampton Roads received the care they earned; and she was fired last week without notice or cause.  She and thousands of veterans and other civil servants have had their lives upended and Americans have had services denied because of President Trump and Elon Musk’s cruel policies.

“President Trump has also weakened our national security and our standing on the world stage by abandoning Ukraine, doing the bidding of Vladimir Putin.

“I will always stand up for American workers, students, and families. And I will fight back against Republicans’ proposal  to increase the cost of student loans and cut the school meal program to pay for tax cuts for their wealthy donors. Tonight, President Trump made it abundantly clear what his priorities are and will always be; his own self-interest – and he wants Americans pay for it.”— Rep. Bobby Scott

Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is running for Virginia governor, said “Virginians deserve leaders who are focused on creating jobs, not unleashing chaos.”

“Tonight, Virginians deserved to hear how President Trump plans to lower costs for families and end the damage caused by his administration’s reckless attacks on jobs here in the Commonwealth. Instead, thousands of Virginians still fear they’ll lose their jobs.

“The strength of our federal workforce is a kitchen-table issue here in Virginia. While I have long supported efforts to make our government more efficient and more responsive to the American people, this sledgehammer approach is hurting the financial security of Virginia workers and risking a devastating domino effect for our Commonwealth’s economy.

“Virginians deserve leaders who are focused on creating and protecting jobs, not unleashing chaos. As the next Governor of Virginia, I will always stand up for Virginians and our economy by focusing on the issues that matter most — lowering costs, strengthening our public schools, and increasing opportunity for every Virginian.”— Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Democratic candidate for Virginia governor

WAVY will bring you more reaction from Virginia and North Carolina members of Congress as they come in.