More than Two Dozen Democrats to Abandon Trump’s State of the Union for Counter Rallies

More than two dozen Democratic lawmakers are set to skip President Donald Trump's upcoming State of the Union address, opting instead to participate in a counter-rally on the National Mall. This protest is organized by progressive media company MediasTouch alongside the advocacy group MoveOn Civic Action.

The event, dubbed the “People's State of the Union,” aims to provide an alternative narrative to what the organizers describe as a “night full of lies and misplaced priorities for the American people.” Scheduled for 8 p.m. EST on February 24, it will feature appearances from at least a dozen Congressional Democrats, with liberal media figures Joy Reid and Katie Phang serving as hosts.

Among those attending are Senators Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, and Chris Murphy, along with Representatives Yassamin Ansari, Veronica Escobar, and Pramila Jayapal. “Donald Trump has made a mockery of the State of the Union speech,” Murphy stated during a press conference announcing the rally. “Democrats have no obligation to reward him with an audience as he lies and attacks people who disagree with him.”

Murphy further emphasized that attending the speech would lend a false legitimacy to what he termed “the corruption and lawlessness that has defined [Trump's] second term.” Senator Chris Van Hollen echoed this sentiment, asserting that the nation cannot treat Trump’s presidency as “business as usual.”

“Trump is marching America towards fascism, and I refuse to normalize his shredding of our Constitution & democracy. This cannot be business as usual,” Van Hollen expressed in a post on X.

In addition to the main event, a second gathering titled “State of the Swamp” will take place an hour earlier. This event will feature remarks from Senator Ron Wyden, Representatives Eric Swalwell and Jason Crow, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Celebrities such as Robert De Niro, Mark Ruffalo, and Tom Arnold will also make appearances, alongside media personalities like Mehdi Hasan, Don Lemon, and Jim Acosta. The “State of the Swamp” will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and will be livestreamed on platforms including Defiance.org and YouTube. While the livestream is free, there are optional paid tiers for donations. In-person tickets have reportedly sold out.

Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries has encouraged members to either attend Trump’s address “in silent defiance” or join a counter event but advised against complete withdrawal. “We’re not going to Donald Trump’s house,” he remarked last week. “He’s coming to our house. It’s my view that you don’t let anyone, ever, run you off of your block.”

The White House responded dismissively to the planned Democratic protests. “It’s not a surprise that they refuse to celebrate and honor the Americans who have benefited from the commonsense policies Republicans have governed with,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated.

Protests during State of the Union addresses are not new. Last year, some Democrats waved paddles with protest messages such as “Save Medicaid” and “Musk Steals.” At former President Joe Biden's final address, then-Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene attended wearing a red MAGA hat and a shirt that read "Say Her Name," referencing a tragic incident involving a nursing student killed by an undocumented migrant.

In 2020, ten Democrats chose not to attend Trump’s State of the Union address, while three others walked out during the speech. Despite these protests, Trump is expected to deliver his address even amid a partial government shutdown.