Seeking to draw attention to the influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border, Representative Lauren Boebert brought along a thermal space blanket to US President Joe Biden’s first big speech in Congress.
Biden was speaking 100 days after entering the White House, describing the opening months of his tenure as a moment of “crisis and opportunity”, declaring that “America is rising anew” and detailing his plans for reviving the economy following the coronavirus pandemic and for tackling the global climate emergency.
The first-term Republican lawmaker from Colorado unfolded a thermal space blanket similar to those given to migrants in detention facilities at the southern border and kept it on her lap as she listened to Biden’s speech and live-tweeted.
“Biden’s solution to illegal immigration is amnesty and open borders,” the congresswoman wrote on Twitter, describing the situation at the border as “a war zone.”
Biden’s solution to illegal immigration is amnesty and open borders.
Disappointed but not surprised.
— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) April 29, 2021
According to The Hill, a spokesperson for Boebert said that she was trying to highlight the recent surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The spokesperson said, “President Biden did not address or bring attention to the crisis at our southern border. So Rep. Boebert did.”
Republican Buzz Patterson, who was the nominee in California’s 7th District for Congress last year in a failed effort, echoed those words and applauded Boebert in a tweet that she retweeted.
Sharing a picture of Boebert sitting in the audience, Patterson said, “Joe Biden didn’t bring up the border crisis, but @LaurenBoebert brought out a mylar blanket to remind him of the kids he has locked up on the Southern Border. That’s how it’s done!”
Joe Biden didn’t bring up the border crisis, but @LaurenBoebert brought out a mylar blanket to remind him of the kids he has locked up on the Southern Border. That’s how it’s done! pic.twitter.com/7OEJuNePdn
— Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) April 29, 2021
Twitter user “Mr Reagan,” in a tweet that was also retweeted by the Congresswoman, tweeted out his support for the display.
He exclaimed, “Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear space blankets to remind the demented President of the kids he’s keeping in detention centers at the border. Awesome job @LaurenBoebert! That’s how it’s done!”
Not all heroes wear capes.
Some wear space blankets to remind the demented President of the kids he’s keeping in detention centers at the border.
Awesome job @LaurenBoebert! That’s how it’s done! pic.twitter.com/cOtY4lKktP
— Mr Reagan 🇺🇸 (@MrReaganUSA) April 29, 2021
As The Hill pointed out, Boebert tweeted about 30 times providing real-time reactions to Biden’s address, including multiple missives questioning the social distancing measures in place during the event, making references to Biden’s son Hunter and highlighting the surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Reporters in the House chamber complained that the blanket made a loud noise as Boebert draped the blanket over her lap, The Hill also noted.
Matt Fuller with the Daily Beast was confused by the clear symbolism of the blanket as he tweeted, “Alright, so Lauren Boebert just sort of loudly opened a space blanket—like shook it free so that everyone could hear it in the chamber—and then just draped it on her lap. I honestly don’t know what it means.”
Alright, so Lauren Boebert just sort of loudly opened a space blanket—like shook it free so that everyone could hear it in the chamber—and then just draped it on her lap.
I honestly don’t know what it means.
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) April 29, 2021
Boebert tweeted from her government account, “For those who complained about the sound of my Mylar blanket, imagine what this room sounds like. Fix it, Joe!”
“Biden refused to bring attention to the crisis he created at the southern border. So I did,” Boebert added.
For those who complained about the sound of my Mylar blanket, imagine what this room sounds like.
Fix it, Joe! pic.twitter.com/82N0H0KtCb
— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@RepBoebert) April 29, 2021
Sources: MediaRightNews, The Hill,