For 29 years, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, has camped out in the Home chamber ahead of a presidential address to Congress — spending hours saving an aisle seat to greet the president as he entered and exited the chamber.
But nowadays, the notorious “aisle hog” announced that he would be breaking his tradition, and skip taking an aisle seat to wish President Trump well as he addresses Congress for the first time tonight.
Engel, the ranking member on the Residence Foreign Affairs Committee, mentioned he produced the decision in response to Trump’s policies on refugees, criticism of the media and praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I have deep respect for the Presidency, and I will attend the joint session. But that respect involving branches will have to be mutual,” Engel mentioned on the Residence floor Tuesday.
“This goes beyond ideological and political differences. The President wants to work with all people today. And as a result, I will listen to what he has to say today, but I will not greet him and shake his hand,” he added.
In 2015, Engel told ABC News he enjoys sitting in the aisle of the Residence chamber and being in the middle of the action.
“When it happens, it’s electrifying. There’s so substantially power, it’s wonderful to be a portion of it,” he mentioned at the time.
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