WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney on Tuesday rushed to the defense of President Donald Trump after he criticized Democrats who didn't clap at his State of the Union address, saying she agrees with the president.

Trump said Monday that Democrats who didn't applaud or stand with Republicans during parts of his speech were "un-American" and "treasonous."

Tenney, R-New Hartford, a freshman House member from Central New York, stood out for her defense of Trump on a day when Democrats and Republicans alike criticized the president for his remarks.

"I would say it was un-American, and they don't love our country," Tenney told CNN when asked about the behavior of Democrats at the State of the Union address. "I don't know if I would go as far as treasonous, but the president is before a large audience and he likes to talk in colorful language."

Tenney, who sat with Democrats to show bipartisanship at Trump's State of the Union speech, said she was "appalled at the behavior of Democrats."

Tenney said she "thought it was terrible that they didn't clap for very American ideas" or stand to honor some of those guests who were introduced in the audience, including families whose children were murdered by MS-13 gang members.

Among those who attended the speech at the U.S. Capitol was Tenney's son, Capt. Trey Cleary, an active duty U.S. Marine who served last year in Iraq.

Trump, in a meeting with Tenney in April 2017, insisted on talking with Cleary on Tenney's cell phone on the eve of his deployment.

Tenney's comments in defense of Trump were at odds with some of her conservative Republican colleagues.

Rep. Mark Meadows, a Trump ally and chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, disagreed Tuesday with the president's comments.

"Certainly, saying that someone's un-American because of their unwillingness to clap is not something that most Americans would agree with," Meadows told CNN.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., a leading Senate conservative, said Trump had gone too far with a "vile remark" in his criticism of Democrats.

"Words matter," Flake said in a speech on the Senate floor. "Have we arrived at such a place of numb acceptance that we have nothing to say when a president of the United States casually suggests that those who choose not to stand or applaud his speech are guilty of treason? I certainly hope not."

Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751