Former Chicago Mayor Defends Democrats Skipping Trump's State of the Union

Rahm Emanuel says Democrats should have attended to rebut the president's remarks.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel criticized Democrats for skipping President Trump's State of the Union address, saying they should have attended to listen to and then rebut the president's remarks. Emanuel argued that boycotting the speech does not help the Democrats, even though Trump was 'taunting them' to attend.

Why it matters

Emanuel's comments highlight the ongoing political tensions between Democrats and the Trump administration, as well as the strategic considerations around how the opposition party should respond to the president's speeches and agenda.

The details

In an interview with CNN, Emanuel said the Democrats 'should have shown up' to the State of the Union in order to listen to Trump's remarks and then publicly disagree with them. He argued that 'playing junior varsity' by boycotting the event does not help the Democrats. However, Emanuel acknowledged that Trump was 'taunting' the Democrats to attend, suggesting the president was using the speech for political theater.

  • President Trump gave his first official State of the Union address of his second term on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Rahm Emanuel

The former mayor of Chicago who has been eyed as a possible 2028 presidential contender.

President Trump

The current president of the United States, who gave the State of the Union address that Democrats boycotted.

Rep. Ilhan Omar

A Democratic Congresswoman from Minnesota who heckled President Trump during his speech over his divisive statements about Somali immigrants.

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What they’re saying

“I think the Democrats should have shown up. Don't be, don't play junior varsity in that area, and listen to the president's remarks and then go out with the — and say what you disagreed with.”

— Rahm Emanuel, Former Chicago Mayor (CNN)

“When it comes to the corruption that is plundering America, there has been no more stunning example than Minnesota—where members of the Somali community have pillaged an estimated $19 billion from the American taxpayer.”

— President Trump (State of the Union Address)

What’s next

The political fallout from Democrats' decision to skip the State of the Union address is likely to continue, with both parties positioning themselves for the 2028 presidential election.

The takeaway

Rahm Emanuel's comments highlight the strategic dilemma facing the Democratic Party in how to respond to President Trump's speeches and agenda. While boycotting the event may be a symbolic gesture, Emanuel argues it does not help the Democrats effectively counter the president's message and narrative.