WASHINGTON — Democrats are plotting to boycott President Trump’s State of the Union address next week and host an alternative rally instead after being widely panned for their rowdy behavior during his marquee speech last year.
Dubbed the “People’s State of the Union,” multiple Democrats are planning to assemble on the National Mall near the Capitol and rail against Trump during his primetime spectacle.
Lefty media outlet MeidasTouch and the progressive group MoveOn are organizing the State of the Union knockoff, but top party leaders such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) are expected to attend Trump’s address.
“My current plan is to attend,” Jeffries told reporters Wednesday. “We’re not going to Donald Trump’s house. He’s coming to our house. It’s my view that you don’t let anyone ever run you off of your block.”
Right now, it’s not fully clear how many Democrats intend to partake in the alternative event, though at least about a dozen have confirmed their plans to do so. Several Democrats had boycotted Trump’s 2025 speech.
So far, the Senate Democrats attending the counterprogramming include: Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), per the organizers.
House Democrats include Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Greg Casar (D-Texas), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).
Some Democrats are also likely to stage a walkout in the middle of Trump’s speech to create a spectacle for TV cameras in the House chamber.
“The only question for me is which of his disgusting lines prompts me to get up and leave, because at some point I will,” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) sniped to Axios.
Last year, during Trump’s joint session of Congress, which was not called a State of the Union because Trump was just kicking off his new term, Rep. Al Green (R-Texas) was infamously hauled out of the House chamber after waving his cane and shouting at the president.
Other Democratic reps waived paddles and donned pins. Leadership had privately begged them to be on their best behavior during the televised event.
During the “People’s State of the Union,” Democrats are planning to spotlight individuals who have been impacted by rising health care costs and the cost of living, as well as immigrants.
Left pundits Joy Reid and Katie Phang are slated to host the event.
