At least a dozen Democrats in both the Senate and House of Representatives have announced their intention to skip President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech scheduled for Feb. 24, instead choosing to participate in a rally protesting his policies in the National Mall.
Liberal groups MoveOn and MeidasTouch announced on Feb. 18 their “People’s State of the Union” rally on the National Mall, near the Capitol, as an event meant to counterprogram"President Trump’s night full of lies and misplaced priorities for the American people." The organizations revealed that "Democratic lawmakers will be joined on stage by the everyday Americans most impacted by Trump’s dangerous agenda."
Sens. Jeff Merkley (D.-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D.-Conn.), Tina Smith (D.-Minn.), and Chris Van Hollen (D.-Md.) are set to appear at the 8:30 PM rally, alongside Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D., Ariz.), Becca Balint (D., Vt.), Greg Casar (D., Texas), Veronica Escobar (D., Texas), Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.), Delia Ramirez (D., Ill.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D., N.J.).
Historically, the opposing party of the presidential administration expresses its dissent to the address with an official statement following the televised event, but since President Trump’s first term, Democrats have issued their formal statement while also expressing their dissent through other means.
Previously, Democratic officials have either boycotted the speech, walked out of the chamber during the address, been removed from the chamber, or have resorted to other tactics to express their dissent from President Trump’s remarks.
“Instead of sitting through what has become President Trump’s annual self-congratulation, misinformation, and division speech, I look forward to a night of standing with colleagues, organizers, advocates, and everyday Americans who are committed to doing the real and honest work of protecting our rights, strengthening our communities, and holding those in power accountable,” Sen. Balint stated.
“Next week, Trump will deliver his State of the Union address. I won’t be there," Van Hollen additionally wrote in a post on X. "Trump is marching America towards fascism, and I refuse to normalize his shredding of our Constitution & democracy. This cannot be business as usual.”
