WASHINGTON — A lot for Connecticut.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) raised eyebrows Saturday for posing with Jimmy Kimmel in California and attending “No Kings” protests there — a day after the Senate broke for recess whereas airport safety traces stay in shambles resulting from a partial shutdown.
Murphy posted a photograph of himself with the “Jimmy Kimmel Stay!” host at an anti-President Trump rally in Torrance, California — some 2,500 miles from his dwelling state.
“Look who I bumped into on the No Kings rally in Torrance, California,” Murphy posted on X.
“In LA this weekend and joined the South Bay No Kings rally. HUGE turnout!” Murphy posted on X.
The east coast Dem — is who rumored to have 2028 presidential aspirations — additionally touted a dialogue he had with Californians pushing to ramp up taxes on billionaires.
Notably, the California Billionaire Tax Act, a proposed poll initiative, has drawn opposition from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), one other pol who has drawn 2028 presidential buzz.
The proposal requires a one-time 5% wealth tax on Californians with web worths over $1.1 billion.
That tax can be retroactive for Golden State residents who lived within the state as of Jan. 1 this yr. California had about 246 billionaires dwelling within the state, per Forbes. Already, a number of prime billionaires have fled the state amid fears that they may face that tax.
“In Los Angeles immediately I rallied with the well being care staff who’re supporting California’s billionaire tax poll initiative,” Murphy posted on X.
“There is no such thing as a option to restore the harm Trump has completed to our well being care system with out asking the tremendous rich to pay their justifiable share.”
Murphy has rigorously labored to burnish his progressive file throughout Trump’s second time period in workplace, having cut up with Democratic management within the Senate for slicing a deal to avert a authorities shutdown with Republicans in March 2025.
He additionally publicly lamented the deal minimize final fall to finish the 43-day authorities shutdown.
Given his rising profile in progressive circles, netizens shortly seized on Murphy’s unexplained go to to California and trolled him on-line.
“Why is a senator from Connecticut hanging out in Torrance, California?” conservative pundit Stephen Miller chided on X.
“Why is a senator from Connecticut at a protest in LA and never like Hartford or New Haven,” one other X consumer wrote.
“This one writes itself,” actor Dean Cain jabbed.
“I like how he goes throughout the nation to California as a substitute of up the highway in Connecticut which he (allegedly) represents,” consumer “AOC Parody” griped.
Not all the reactions had been destructive. Murphy did get some love from progressive customers, with lefty pundit Joanne Carducci writing, “Two of my favourite heroes!”
The Put up contacted Murphy’s workplace for remark about why he was in California.
The Senate had adjourned for recess early Friday after passing a deal to fund a lot of the Division of Homeland Safety and finish the shutdown that started on Feb. 14.
Home Republicans rejected that deal as a result of it lacked funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Safety.
