Some Democrats in Congress are planning a boycott of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address and will instead attend a rally outside the U.S. Capitol, a sign of the growing polarization between the two parties that has come to characterize one of the longest-running traditions in Washington politics.
About a dozen members of Congress from both the House and Senate are planning to attend a “People’s State of the Union” rally that will take place on the National Mall near the United States Capitol while the president gives his annual address to Congress.
The boycott is a rare collective absence from a ceremony that has traditionally been considered a constitutional requirement and a manifestation of national unity.
Although individual lawmakers have on occasion skipped the State of the Union address in the past, alternative events held at the same time as the address have been few.
According to participants, the rally is meant to offer an alternative platform that raises issues of concern with regard to immigration enforcement, economic policies, as well as political rhetoric.
One of the lawmakers who has supported the rally, Senator Chris Murphy, criticized the president for turning the annual address into a partisan event.
Murphy said that Trump had “made a mockery of the State of the Union speech – taking a moment that is meant to bring the country together and turning it into a campaign rally to spew hatred and division.”
The White House downplayed the boycott, calling it political theater.
“The Democrats have boycotted several initiatives of the administration, including tax policies and immigration enforcement,” said Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson.
“Their absence may be a sign of disagreement with policies that Republicans claim have helped many Americans.”
The event is being organized in conjunction with MeidasTouch, a progressive media company, and MoveOn Civic Action, according to statements issued by the two groups.
Speakers for the event will be people who claim to have been impacted by federal policies, although the list of speakers has not been released.
Not all progressive Democrats are boycotting the presidential address.
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Some lawmakers will be attending the speech but will be making a statement by bringing guests to the event. This has become a common practice at recent presidential addresses.
Representative Mark Pocan announced that he would invite Doug Rebout, the president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association, as his guest.
According to Pocan’s office, soybean farmers have been dealing with economic uncertainty due to tariffs imposed during Trump’s trade wars, which led to China’s retaliatory tariffs.
The differing strategies among Democrats reflect the larger rifts in the party regarding the best course of action in response to Trump’s comeback to the national scene.
While some members of Congress choose to make a statement through protest, others see the value in attending the speech in order to represent their constituents while still making a statement.
The State of the Union address has increasingly become a platform for partisan politics rather than a bipartisan occasion.
In recent years, lawmakers have interrupted speeches, worn clothing to express social causes, or brought guests whose experiences illustrate disagreements over policies.
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During the State of the Union address last year, Representative Al Green was escorted out of the House chamber after he stood up and yelled in protest of Republican plans to cut Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for low-income Americans and individuals with disabilities. The Republican-led House subsequently formally reprimanded him for the outburst.
Tense moments have also been experienced between the presidents and the leaders of Congress themselves.
In 2020, during Trump’s final State of the Union address of his first term, he refused to shake hands with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he approached the podium. Later, after the speech, Pelosi tore up a printed version of his speech, stating that she thought the speech was full of “lies” and that she believed the speech contained inaccuracies.
These moments are in stark contrast to the origins of the annual address itself, which is required by the United States Constitution as a report from the president to Congress about the state of the nation and its legislative agenda.
The first address was given in person by George Washington in 1790 and took the form of a brief written message that outlined the problems facing the nation and its needs.
Historians point out that the political displays during the speech have become more prominent with the increase in polarization in American politics.
There has been an increase in the reflection of party lines in the applause and seating arrangements during the speech, with politicians using the media platform to reach their supporters outside the chamber.
The State of the Union address is set to take place on Tuesday night, with lawmakers set to deliver rebuttals and protest organisers to release statements summarizing their demands.
