Some Democrat Lawmakers to Boycott State of the Union Speech

At least 12 congresspeople will boycott next Tuesday's State of the Union Speech by President Donald Trump and attend rally on the Mall.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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At least 12 Democrat members of Congress are planning to boycott next Tuesday's State of the Union Speech by President Donald Trump and will attend a progressive rally on the National Mall organized by MoveOn and MeidasTouch. The lawmakers cite Trump's 'dangerous agenda' and say they don't want to 'normalize his shredding of our Constitution & democracy' by attending the speech.

Why it matters

The decision by these Democratic lawmakers to boycott the State of the Union address reflects the deep partisan divide in Washington and the growing tensions between the two parties. It also highlights the ongoing debate over Trump's presidency and the impact of his policies.

The details

The lawmakers planning to attend the 'People's State of the Union' rally instead of the official speech include Sens. Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy, Tina Smith, and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Reps. Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Greg Casar, Veronica Escobar, Pramila Jayapal, Delia Ramirez, and Bonnie Watson Coleman. They say Trump's speech has become a 'campaign rally to spew hatred and division' rather than an opportunity to bring the country together.

  • The State of the Union address is scheduled for next Tuesday.
  • The 'People's State of the Union' rally will be held at 8:30 p.m. EST near the Capitol on the same night.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who will be delivering the State of the Union address.

Ed Markey

A Democratic Senator from Massachusetts who plans to boycott the State of the Union speech.

MoveOn

A progressive organization that is organizing the 'People's State of the Union' rally as a counterprogram to Trump's speech.

MeidasTouch

A progressive organization that is organizing the 'People's State of the Union' rally as a counterprogram to Trump's speech.

Hakeem Jeffries

The Democratic Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, who has told lawmakers to either sit quietly through the speech or boycott it, but not create distractions.

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What they’re saying

“Next week, Trump will deliver his State of the Union address. I won't be there. Trump is marching America towards fascism, and I refuse to normalize his shredding of our Constitution & democracy. This cannot be business as usual.”

— Chris Van Hollen, Democratic Senator from Maryland (X)

“He's made a mockery of the State of the Union speech, and he doesn't deserve an audience. He's going to tell 40 different lies, call Democrats names; he's going to paper over his corruption; and I don't feel like what he's doing dignifies having Democrats there to cloak the speech in a veneer of respectability.”

— Chris Murphy, Democratic Senator from Connecticut (The New York Times)

“Instead of sitting through what has become President Trump's annual self-congratulation, misinformation, and division speech, I look forward to a night of standing with colleagues, organizers, advocates and everyday Americans who are committed to doing the real and honest work of protecting our rights, strengthening our communities, and holding those in power accountable.”

— Becca Balint, Democratic Representative from Vermont (N/A)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This decision by Democratic lawmakers to boycott the State of the Union address highlights the deep partisan divide in Washington and the ongoing debate over Trump's presidency and the impact of his policies. It reflects the growing tensions between the two parties and the desire by some Democrats to not 'normalize' what they see as Trump's 'dangerous agenda' and 'shredding of our Constitution & democracy'.