Counterprotests During State of the Union Address
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump addressed the nation in his State of the Union speech. Interestingly, a number of Congressional Democrats opted to forgo the event to attend an alternative gathering dubbed “State of the Swamp,” which featured actor Robert De Niro as a keynote speaker. One group celebrated at this event—the “Portland Frog Brigade”—is, in essence, linked to Antifa activists, albeit dressed in whimsical clothing.
You might have caught sight of a striking inflatable frog featured in various clips, either from the counter protest or at other demonstrations, notably at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, starting in places like Portland and spreading to cities like Chicago and Minneapolis.
Interestingly, mainstream media outlets—even those with conservative leanings—tend to portray these quirky amphibians in a lighthearted manner, often overlooking their more serious undertones. This is crucial; the costumes aren’t just playful attire, they’re, I think, more like tactical disguises.
The inflatable frog costume serves a couple of key functions. First, it conceals the identity of the wearer. More importantly, it creates an appearance of innocence, suggesting that the wearer isn’t a physical threat.
How do we know this about the Frog Brigade? Well, I witnessed some events unfold in Portland last October. I even had a brief altercation with one of the Antifa leaders known for spreading rather questionable ideologies.
During my experience, I saw how Antifa members harassed a woman supportive of Trump, effectively trapping her in her car outside a Portland ICE facility. I vividly recall, “Her car was completely surrounded by masked Antifa individuals, including one guy in a giant frog suit. They shouted at her while kicking the vehicle. It was clear the police weren’t intervening, so I approached her, tapped her shoulder, and said, ‘You need to get out of here.’ She looked panicked and said, ‘I’d like to, but they won’t let me.’ I then turned to the crowd, insisting, ‘She wants to leave. Please let her leave,’ yet it was the man in the frog costume who repeatedly echoed that request while assisting her to her feet.”
In other reports, Andy Ngo, a journalist familiar with Antifa activities, highlighted that the individual behind the frog costume movement is a known agitator arrested earlier this year during protests associated with gang-related arrests in Portland.
By then, frog suits were appearing widely—almost like a trendy phenomenon. But why the sudden surge of amphibian-themed attire?
What groups like Antifa realized is that the absurdity of such costumes undermines any serious claims that they could be threatening. It’s a bit of a contradiction, but it’s crucial to recognize the underlying truth here.
Apart from the enthusiastic cheer for Antifa frogs at the Democratic rally, there was also a man in a giraffe costume who garnered applause for reciting slam poetry and bragging about his multiple detentions in ICE facilities.
This absurd “Ms. Frizzle’s class” look is designed to make claims of dangerous behavior seem laughable—despite his admission that his motivations revolved around protecting gang members from deportation.
It’s possible that many Democrats were unaware of the Frog Brigade’s Antifa affiliations, though local representatives like Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Maxine Dexter surely are, given their involvement with constituents.
Remember when Democrats argued that Antifa didn’t even exist? There was a time when Representative Jerry Nadler and President Biden dismissed the group as a “myth.” Times have certainly changed.
Recently, The Nation published an article titled “Liberals think Antifa isn’t real. But it is. And it knows how to win,” which reflects shifting perceptions within more progressive circles.
The Trump administration has classified Antifa as a terrorist organization, while The Nation describes it as a formidable force in progressive movements. Yet, while daytime may see them roaming in silly costumes, under the cover of night, they revert to more threatening forms, brandishing masks and weapons against federal agents.
This celebration of absurdity by politicians and celebrities demonstrates a troubling trend. Their support appears to extend to anything opposed to Trump, even if it means endorsing adult figures dressed as frogs, aggressively confronting women during protests.
Next time you see those frogs, I urge you—look beyond the absurdity. Understand that these are serious activists whose actions can undermine the very fabric of America, all while some elected representatives cheer them on.
