A MAGA lawmaker who was wearing a Trump flag as a cape was forced to take it off before walking into a legislative session as Republican state lawmakers were following demands from President Donald Trump to redraw the state’s congressional districts — and facing mounting protests that activists say would split the state's only majority-Black congressional seat, according to reports on Thursday.
Republican Tennessee state Rep. Todd Warner was met with booing and yells from protesters on Thursday, the third day of a special session in Nashville, where Republican leadership was advancing a new congressional election map. Warner was walking through the crowd with a Trump flag on his back when security stopped him and removed it before he walked into the legislative chamber.
In a video posted on social media, Republican Tennessee State Rep. Scott Cepicky tried to laugh off Warner's move with Democratic Rep. Torrey Harris, who appeared to be less than amused.
People inside the galleries were chanting and holding signs that said "no Jim Crow maps," "hands off our vote" and "this will backfire," according to The Tennessean.
Republicans were expected to approve redistricting on Thursday, The Tennessean reported.
"Not all Republicans are on board. Some are saying it's not a good use of taxpayer dollars. Others say now is not the right time," according to the outlet.
"But Republican leadership is salivating at the chance to make Tennessee an all-red wall to help Trump keep a House majority and 'cement' his agenda," according to The Tennessean.
State troopers were asking demonstrators to leave the House gallery amid the session, Reuters reported.