A growing number of Democratic lawmakers are planning to forgo President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on February 24th, opting instead to attend a counter-rally organized by MoveOn and MeidasTouch on the National Mall. The boycott, confirmed by multiple sources, represents a continuation of Democratic opposition to Trump’s presidency and a deliberate effort to diminish the prominence of his annual address.
President Trump is scheduled to deliver his remarks before a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. ET. However, the House chamber is expected to have visible absences as Democrats demonstrate their dissent. This year’s protest builds on a pattern established throughout Trump’s first term, which has included skipped speeches, walkouts, and other overt displays of opposition during the State of the Union.
The alternative event, dubbed “The People’s State of the Union,” is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. ET. MoveOn’s press release indicates that at least a dozen Democratic lawmakers have committed to attending the rally. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts articulated the rationale behind the boycott, stating, “The State of the Union should be a reckoning with reality, but Donald Trump will use it to spin fiction and normalize the gross abuse of power. He will claim everything is fine while families struggle to afford health care and housing, immigrant communities live in fear, and his billionaire allies loot the country under the cover of chaos – I will not legitimize those lies.”
Confirmed attendees of the “People’s State of the Union” include Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Tina Smith of Minnesota, and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. Representatives Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Becca Balint of Vermont, Greg Casar of Texas, Veronica Escobar of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey will also participate.
Traditionally, the president’s opposing party delivers an official rebuttal following the State of the Union address. However, Democrats have increasingly chosen to amplify their opposition through more public demonstrations alongside the traditional response. The counter-rally is intended to highlight concerns regarding the impact of Trump’s policies, particularly on healthcare access, housing affordability, and immigrant communities.
The event will be hosted by Joy Reid and Katie Phang, prominent liberal political commentators. No official response from the White House regarding the planned boycott has been issued as of Wednesday, February 18th.
