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Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Rep. David Kustoff greet supporters at Memphis International Airport on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.(Photo: Max Gersh / The Commercial Appeall)

One of Shelby County's congressmen didn't attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union this week. The other is condemning House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for ripping up the president's speech after he finished.

In U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, and David Kustoff, R-Germantown, the partisan divide over President Donald Trump is as apparent as it is anywhere.

After the speech, Pelosi ripped up Trump's address. And that prompted Kustoff to weigh in on Twitter Thursday.

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"Speaker Pelosis actions at the #SOTU were disgraceful and deeply disrespectful to the American heroes honored in @realDonaldTrumps address. That is why I supported @RepKayGrangers resolution to condemn the Speakers shameful behavior. Her actions must be held accountable," Kustoff said.

U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, introduced the resolution on Wednesday. Kustoff's response to it fits the pattern of his responses to the extraordinary events unfolding in Washington. While Cohenhas sought to remove the president from officefor years, Kustoff, whose district includes parts of 13counties besides Shelby, has stood by Trump, like nearly all Republicans.

Cohen used a similar tone to describe why he was skipping the State of the Union.

"Iwill not be a witness to puffery and prevaricationflowing while our Constitution and our laws are disrespectfully and dangerously flouted.While I will always respect the officeof the President, its current inhabitantdemonstratesdaily thathe does not," Cohen said.

When the U.S.Senate voted to acquit the president and end his impeachment trial Wednesday, Kustoff tweeted, "I commend the Senate for acquitting@realDonaldTrump today and putting an end to this partisan endeavor. The fact is, President Trump did nothing wrong, and todays acquittal proves just that."

Cohen, on the other hand, though he has said conviction was unlikely for months, expressed disappointment and said voters should focus on removing Trump in November.

"His ignominious impeachment will always be the legacy of his reckless and lawless presidency," Cohen said."A bipartisan majority of Congress has voted to impeach or convict him, and thats a blemish on his record that the American public should consider in evaluating his remaining time in office."

Samuel Hardiman covers Memphis city government and politics for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by email at samuel.hardiman@commercialappeal.com.

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Shelby County's two congressmen have wildly different takes on Trump's acquittal, State of the Union - Commercial Appeal