Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer draws laughter as he appears upside-down during virtual House meeting

"You're upside down, Tom," an off-camera committee member alerted the Minnesota Republican during his virtual appearance.

February 11, 2021 at 1:41PM
Tom Emmer as he appeared briefly in an appearance Wednesday before the House Financial Services Committee. (U.S. House of Representatives/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minnesota U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer unintentionally flipped the mood of a House committee meeting for a moment during the Twin Cities Republican's virtual drop-in.

"Will the gentleman suspend?" Rep. Maxine Waters, committee chairwoman, said Wednesday as Emmer read his comments from a remote location while his head appeared to float in front of a blue and white backdrop.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Emmer?" the California Democrat continued. "Are you OK?"

"I am," he replied.

"You're upside down, Tom," an off-camera committee member interjected.

"I don't know how to fix that," he replied amid giggling from people in the committee room.

One suggestion from the room? "You could stand on your head."

The one-liners kept coming: "At least you're not a cat." "You're going viral, Tom."

After about a minute, Emmer's head was right with the world.

"The gentleman from Minnesota will continue," Waters said.

Later in the day, Emmer took to Twitter and deadpanned, "I am not a cat," a callback to the Texas attorney who, while on his way recently to viral stardom, earnestly made that declaration while his face mistakenly appeared as a kitten during a videoconference court session.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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about the writer

Paul Walsh

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Paul Walsh is a general assignment reporter at the Star Tribune. He wants your news tips, especially in and near Minnesota.

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