A growing number of Democrats are opting to skip President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, instead participating in alternative events or remaining absent as they seek ways to register opposition.
Several Democratic lawmakers plan to attend a counterprogramming event they called the “People’s State of the Union,” scheduled near the Lincoln Memorial. The rally is organized by MeidasTouch and MoveOn Civic Action, two left-leaning media and activist groups. Organizers say the event will focus on criticism of Trump’s first year back in office.
Among the senators expected at the rally are Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, and Tina Smith.
On the House side, those planning to attend include Reps. Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Greg Casar, Veronica Escobar, Pramila Jayapal, John Larson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Delia Ramirez, Sara Jacobs, Emily Randall, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.
A smaller group of Democrats has said they will skip the president’s address without attending the rally. Among them are Sen. Ruben Gallego and Rep. Jared Golden, who have indicated they plan to remain in their home states.
Democrats have grappled with how to express dissent during the annual address. In 2025, Rep. Al Green interrupted Trump’s speech, standing and waving his cane while shouting at the president. Then-House Speaker Mike Johnson directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove Green from the chamber after he refused to yield.
Green has not said whether he will attend Tuesday’s address but stated in a press release that he will “continue this peaceful protest.” He also indicated he would not participate in post-address interviews typically held in nearby House office buildings.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has urged members of his caucus to choose between two approaches: attending the speech in what he described as “silent defiance” or declining to attend as a form of protest.
“The two options that are in front of us [are] to either attend with silent defiance or not to attend and send a message to Donald Trump in that fashion,” Jeffries said at a press conference last week.
Jeffries has said he will attend the address, as will Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The split strategy highlights the limited avenues available to lawmakers seeking to oppose the president during one of the most high-profile events on the congressional calendar, as Democrats attempt to balance political messaging with the decorum traditionally associated with the annual address.
READ NEXT: Is Loyalty Enough? The Patel Controversy Explained
Sponsored
The ones the opt out are less than true Americans. For me they are traitors like kelly. Oh I forgot kelly is dem-o-rat like the dem-o-rats that is not coming to the State of the Union speech by President Trump. Where is you loyalty other than george soros. Maybe china or russia?
Demonocrats get paid for doing NOTHING for our country; why don’t they stay home and watch tv ? Then we won’t have to look at their traitor asses !!! Their American citizenship should be taken away !