Democratic lawmakers staged multiple protests during President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday, but reactions from media figures—including some on the left—suggest the efforts failed to make an impact.

Late-night host Stephen Colbert and journalists from Politico and MSNBC critiqued the effectiveness of the demonstrations, with some describing them as counterproductive and poorly executed.

On The Late Show, Colbert mocked the Democratic protest tactics, particularly their use of signs and coordinated attire.

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“He barked out one appalling claim after another, but don’t you worry: Democrats are getting ready to fight back with their little paddles,” Colbert said, holding up his own sign that read, “Try Doing Something.”

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During the address, some Democrats in the chamber held signs with messages such as “Musk steals” and “Save Medicaid.”

Others turned their backs on the president and wore shirts that read “Resist,” according to reports.

Colbert also commented on the choice of attire among Democratic women, noting, “Many women on the Democratic side showed up dressed in fuchsia. It’s the kind of bold protest that says, ‘This is a test print and your magenta cartridge is working.’”

One of the most notable disruptions of the night came from Rep. Al Green (D-TX), who was removed from the chamber after vocally interrupting the president.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) ordered Green’s removal, a decision that drew both criticism and praise.

Colbert, while acknowledging Green’s actions, took a lighthearted approach, saying, “Ultimately, Johnson called in the sergeant-at-arms to remove the 77-year-old Texas congressman. Now, some people have questioned why so much muscle was needed to remove one old man with a cane. But it turns out it was for a serious reason: when security searched him, they found that he had smuggled in a spine.”

Meanwhile, Politico’s Rachel Bade criticized the Democratic response in a column published Wednesday, arguing that their protests distracted from the party’s messaging.

“Congratulations, attention-hungry House Democrats: You stole the spotlight from Donald Trump on Tuesday night,” Bade wrote.

Bade pointed out that Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), who delivered the Democratic rebuttal to Trump’s speech, saw her message overshadowed by the protests of her former House colleagues.

“But if Democrats think standing up and walking out is their best path back to power, rather than adopting a more strategic approach to their Trump resistance, it could be a long four years—and possibly beyond,” she concluded.

The Democratic demonstrations also drew criticism from MSNBC host Symone Sanders-Townsend, who wrote on X that the signs used during the speech were “not landing.”

She later compared the protest signs to a game of bingo during a segment on MSNBC.

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Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele agreed, saying, “The bingo signs were killing me. I don’t know who thought up the bingo signs, but they should be fired.”

During his address, President Trump acknowledged the lack of response from Democrats, saying, “I look at the Democrats in front of me, and I realize there’s absolutely nothing I can say or do to make them happy or to make them stand and smile, or applaud.”

He extended an invitation to work together, adding, “Why not join us in celebrating so many incredible wins for America? For the good of our nation, let’s work together and truly make America great again.”

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A Democratic strategist, speaking to Politico, admitted the protests did not appear well thought out.

“Very silly, and unserious, but I can’t help but feel some level of empathy for them,” the strategist said.

The mixed reactions from both liberal and conservative commentators suggest that the Democratic lawmakers’ attempts to disrupt Trump’s speech may not have had the intended impact.

Instead of drawing attention to their policy positions, the protests became a focal point of criticism from within their own ranks.