13 photos that show how divided Congress has become

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Marjorie Taylor Greene gives a thumb down as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address on February 7, 2023.

Jim Watson/Getty Images

Photos show how breaches of decorum have become more common in an increasingly polarized Congress.
Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert heckled Joe Biden during the State of the Union.
In January, Kevin McCarthy lost 14 votes for House speaker before eventually winning, causing chaos.

Outbursts, scuffles, and statement outfits have become more common among members of Congress in an increasingly polarized political climate that’s fueled an excess of election denialism, the House of Representatives struggling to elect a speaker twice in the same year, and legislative gridlock as the country looks to keep the lights on and fund two wars.

Here are 13 photos that show how divided Congress has become in recent years.

Many Democratic women wore white to President Donald Trump’s 2019 State of the Union address, creating a stark contrast in the House Chamber seating.

Marjorie Taylor Greene gives a thumb down as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address on February 7, 2023.

Jim Watson/Getty Images

Before the State of the Union in February, McCarthy told CNN that there would be no “childish games” at the speech.

“We’re members of Congress. We have a code of ethics of how we should portray ourselves,” McCarthy said. “And that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

McCarthy then struggled to maintain control of his caucus as Republicans repeatedly interrupted and heckled the president during his speech. McCarthy was seen shushing Republicans such as Greene, who shouted “China spied on us” and “Liar.”

The House voted to remove McCarthy as speaker in October, once again launching the chaotic process of electing a new speaker.

George Santos and Lauren Boebert on the House floor before the Republican nominee for Speaker of the House, Jim Jordan, failed to receive enough votes to win the position on October 17, 2023.

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images

During the first vote on Tuesday, 20 House Republicans voted against Rep. Jim Jordan’s bid for speaker. In the second vote on Wednesday, that number rose to 22.

During the first vote, Boebert was seated next to Rep. George Santos, who was photographed pointing and laughing. Santos was accused of stealing campaign donors’ credit card information and paying his own campaign in a superseding indictment filed on October 10. He has denied wrongdoing.

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