Calls Grow for Boycott of Trump's State of the Union Address

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich urges Americans to skip the speech, citing Trump's abuses of power and rejection of the rule of law.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 10:22am

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Robert Reich, a professor of public policy at Berkeley and former U.S. Secretary of Labor, is calling on Americans to boycott President Trump's upcoming State of the Union address. Reich argues that Trump has "abused and defiled the American presidency" through actions like taking bribes, usurping Congressional powers, and using the Justice Department to target his enemies. He says Trump's speech will be filled with lies that the president hopes people will believe if repeated often enough. Reich also notes that Trump has refused to govern for all Americans, instead focusing only on his own supporters. Given Trump's record, Reich believes the State of the Union is not worth watching and is urging both the public and members of Congress to skip the event.

Why it matters

Reich's call for a boycott highlights the deep divisions in the country and the erosion of norms and institutions under the Trump presidency. By refusing to watch the State of the Union, Americans can send a powerful message that they reject Trump's norm-breaking behavior and his disregard for the rule of law. A significant boycott could also deny Trump a large television audience for his speech, which he craves.

The details

In his article, Reich outlines several reasons why Americans should avoid watching Trump's State of the Union address. First, he argues that Trump has "abused and defiled the American presidency" through actions like taking bribes, usurping Congressional powers, and using the Justice Department to target his enemies. Second, Reich says Trump will simply repeat the same lies he has been telling for years, such as claims about the economy, foreign policy achievements, and the 2020 election being stolen. Third, Reich notes that Trump refuses to govern for all Americans, instead focusing only on his own supporters and even denying federal funding to "blue states." Finally, Reich says the actual state of the union is "abysmal," with the economy benefiting the wealthy while average Americans struggle with high inflation and job losses.

  • The State of the Union address is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, 2026.

The players

Robert Reich

A professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley and former U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Clinton.

President Donald Trump

The 46th President of the United States, who is scheduled to deliver the 2026 State of the Union address.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not going to watch the State of the Union address Tuesday night. I urge you not to, either.”

— Robert Reich, Professor of Public Policy, UC Berkeley

“He's openly taken bribes. He's blatantly usurped the powers of Congress. He has overtly used the Justice Department to punish people he considers his enemies and pardon people loyal to him. He has willfully rejected the rule of law, broken treaties, literally destroyed part of the White House, thumbed his nose at our allies (including our closest and heretofore loyal neighbors), and utterly failed his constitutional duty to take care that the laws are faithfully executed.”

— Robert Reich, Professor of Public Policy, UC Berkeley

What’s next

Some Democrats in Congress are already planning to skip the State of the Union address and instead attend a counter-programming event on the National Mall called "The People's State of the Union."

The takeaway

Reich's call for a boycott of Trump's State of the Union reflects the deep divisions in the country and the erosion of democratic norms under the current administration. By refusing to watch the speech, Americans can send a powerful message that they reject Trump's disregard for the rule of law and his failure to govern for all citizens.