Democrats Urged to Boycott Trump's State of the Union Address

Attending the SOTU would send the wrong message, say critics.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A debate is raging among Democratic members of Congress over whether to attend or boycott President Trump's upcoming State of the Union address. Some argue that attending would normalize Trump's presidency, which they see as an assault on American democracy, while others say members have an obligation to listen to any president's SOTU. The article makes the case that Democrats should boycott the event and attend an alternative event instead to send a clear message that these are not normal times.

Why it matters

The State of the Union address has become a major political spectacle, with members of Congress using it to make statements. In the current political climate, with Trump's presidency seen by many as a threat to democratic norms, the decision of whether to attend or boycott carries significant symbolic weight.

The details

The article outlines the history of the State of the Union address, noting that it has evolved from a written report to a high-profile media event. It describes how members of Congress now use the event to make political points, such as by inviting guests. The author argues that given Trump's actions, including the January 6th attack on the Capitol, attending the SOTU would be seen as normalizing his presidency, which they view as an attack on American democracy.

  • The State of the Union address is scheduled for 2026-02-21.

The players

Hakeem Jeffries

A Democratic member of Congress who has said he plans to attend the State of the Union address.

Chris Murphy

A Democratic senator from Connecticut who boycotted the State of the Union last year, saying 'These aren't normal times, and we have to stop doing normal things.'

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What they’re saying

“We're not going to his house, he's coming to our house. Having grown up where I grew up, you never let anyone run you off your block.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic member of Congress (The New York Times)

“These aren't normal times, and we have to stop doing normal things.”

— Chris Murphy, Democratic senator from Connecticut (The article)

What’s next

The article does not mention any specific next steps, as the focus is on the decision of whether to attend or boycott the upcoming State of the Union address.

The takeaway

The decision of whether Democratic members of Congress should attend or boycott President Trump's State of the Union address is a complex one, with valid arguments on both sides. However, the article makes a compelling case that boycotting the event and attending an alternative event would send a stronger message that these are not normal times and that Trump's presidency represents a threat to American democracy.