Large number of Democrats plan to boycott Trump’s State of the Union
President Donald Trump’s second State of the Union address is scheduled for next week before Congress; however, many Democrats have already made other plans
US President Donald Trump arrives to deliver the State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 5, 2019(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump’s second State of the Union address is scheduled for next week before Congress; however, many Democrats have already made other plans.
Several Democratic senators, including Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy, Tina Smith, and Chris Van Hollen, will accompany various Democratic representatives to an alternative event held on the National Mall outside the Capitol. Dubbed the “People’s State of the Union,” the rally is slated to be attended by those who skipped both Trump’s first and second inaugurations.
“These aren’t normal times and showing up for this speech puts a veneer of legitimacy on the corruption and lawlessness that has defined his second term,” Murphy said in a statement about the rally. Ansari, who walked out of Trump’s address to Congress last year, said that the rally is her way of continuing the protest.
It was reported that the liberal group MoveOn, along with several others, is hosting the event along with the Democratic-aligned media outlet, MeidasTouch. In a statement to Politico, the White House dismissed the boycott, attempting to point out that Democrats had routinely flouted and worked to thwart the Trump administration’s goals.
Dubbed the “People’s State of the Union,” the rally is slated to be attended by those who skipped both Trump’s first and second inaugurations.(Image: Getty Images)
“It’s not a surprise that they refuse to celebrate and honor the Americans who have benefited from the commonsense policies Republicans have governed with,” White House spokesperson Abigail Johnson told Politico. This is not the first time that Democrats have boycotted the president.
During the first Trump era, dozens of Democrats boycotted Trump’s inauguration, and only seven attended his second inauguration in 2025. The president’s address is slated to go on despite the ongoing partial government shutdown.
Sen. Chris Murphy said that showing up to the speech,” puts a veneer of legitmancy” on the administration(Image: AP)
The optics have reportedly caused some senior Capitol Hill Republicans and administration officials to privately worry. Republicans who are worried think it would be less than ideal for Trump to appear before the House and say the union is doing well when a vital portion of the federal government is still closed.
“It doesn’t exactly scream ‘a functioning GOP trifecta,’” said one House Republican. A senior White House official responded, “Not as of yet,” when asked Friday if there was any discussion about delaying the speech.
Ansari told Politico that she planned to bring a guest to the event who had been targeted by the Trump administration during its immigration crackdown(Image: Getty Images)
During an earlier government shutdown in 2019, Trump and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi engaged in a public spat for nearly a week over whether to postpone his State of the Union address, which he eventually agreed to. Republicans anticipate that, unless the White House officially requests it, Speaker Mike Johnson, who is responsible for formally inviting the president to address a joint session of Congress, won’t postpone the speech
The most recent shutdown is expected to last until at least the week of Trump’s Feb. 24 State of the Union address, as Senate Democrats and House Democrats disagree sharply over how far Trump’s immigration enforcement actions should be curbed as part of a financing deal. Although negotiations are still ongoing, lawmakers left Washington on Thursday for a week-long break with little chance of an early return.