Rep. John Rose, R-T.N., may never give a more memorable speech on the House floor, though not for anything the Tennessee lawmaker actually said on Monday.
“As an attorney, I can tell you that May 30th will be among the more infamous dates in American history,” Rose stated about former President Donald Trump’s recent conviction in New York.
However, anyone watching likely didn’t pay attention to a word Rose uttered.
It was what was behind the lawmaker that had C-SPAN viewers doing a double-take on what began as an otherwise rather dull legislative day filled with naming new post offices and other routine measures.
The real star of the show was Rose’s 6-year-old son Guy, who had just graduated from kindergarten last week. Guy initially looked directly into the cameras, smiling from ear to ear.
Then he got bored for a bit and appeared to lose his train of thought.
But not for long. Out came the tongue, followed by rolling of the eyes and a shaking of the head, making clear to the world that he was less than impressed with the stodgy decorum of the House of Representatives.
From there, the youngster’s antics escalated into a veritable “sign language of silliness” through a series of animated hand motions that might have gotten him sent to the principal’s office if he were in school.
“Illuminati?” quipped Doug Andres, spokesman for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.
He shared a picture of Guy holding his hands in a triangle in front of his face.
Illuminati? pic.twitter.com/oyV8YeQlZW
— Doug Andres (@DougAndres) June 3, 2024
Before long, the 6-year-old Guy Rose was an internet sensation and a new meme thanks to his background performance upstaging his father’s speech.
“So sorry I was slow responding to your email, I was tied up watching this over and over again,” tweeted Aaron Fritschner, a Democratic congressman’s communications director.
So sorry I was slow responding to your email, I was tied up watching this over and over again pic.twitter.com/1MT81CS440
— Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) June 3, 2024
While an oblivious Rose continued delivering his remarks, his son’s impromptu routine quickly became an internet sensation.
The Tennessee Republican seemed to take it all in stride, tweeting “This is what I get for telling my son Guy to smile at the camera for his little brother,” referring to 3-year-old Sam who remained back home in Tennessee with mom Chelsea.
This is what I get for telling my son Guy to smile at the camera for his little brother 🤷♂️ https://t.co/L8sLBDJt35
— Congressman John Rose (@RepJohnRose) June 3, 2024