DEAR EDITOR:

I find it hypocritical that area Republicans are “appalled” that U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan decided to walk out of the State of the Union address earlier this month.

President Donald Trump turned the annual State of the Union into one of his campaign rallies. Trump decided to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to head cheerleader, former opioid addict, propaganda disseminator and misogynist Rush Limbaugh. All the hoopla and excitement of a red-hat rally was on full display in our nation’s capital.

Sometime during this charade, Tim Ryan walked out of the State of the Union and tweeted that it was more fake than professional wrestling. Immediately, the outcries poured in from Ryan’s potential Republican competitors.

Where, I ask, was the outrage when Trump attacked the parents of fallen Gold Star recipient Humuyan Khan? Where was the outrage when Trump paid a porn star to keep quiet about their extramarital affair before the 2016 election?

Where was the Republican outrage when Trump mocked a disabled reporter, bullied a 16-year girl on Twitter, asked Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election or when he told any one of his countless lies and exaggerations?

Supporting the many appalling actions of President Trump means you can’t cry outrage when an elected official walks out of a speech. Republicans are right to be outraged at the spectacle that has developed in Washington; however, their outrage is misdirected.

JAMES BIELIK

Youngstown