Democratic Lawmakers to Boycott Trump’s State of the Union for Protest Rally

2026-02-19 politics

Washington D.C., Thursday, 19 February 2026.
At least 12 Democrats will skip President Trump’s address next Tuesday, opting for a rival “People’s State of the Union” rally on the National Mall to protest administration policies.

Counter-Programming on the National Mall

In a stark display of the widening partisan fissure in Washington, a coalition of Democratic lawmakers has confirmed plans to skip the joint session of Congress scheduled for Tuesday, February 24, 2026 [1][4]. Instead of attending the President’s address, these members will participate in the “People’s State of the Union,” a rally organized by progressive advocacy groups MoveOn and MeidasTouch [1][2]. The event is slated to begin at 20:30 ET on the National Mall, strategically timed to occur just thirty minutes before President Trump’s remarks commence at 21:00 ET [1][6]. Organizers have tapped MSNBC personalities Joy Reid and Katie Phang to host the demonstration, which aims to elevate the voices of constituents allegedly impacted by the administration’s agenda [5].

Legislators Cite Refusal to Normalize Administration

The boycott currently includes at least five Senators and seven members of the House of Representatives [4]. The Senate contingent features Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Tina Smith of Minnesota, and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland [1][5]. They will be joined by House colleagues including Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Becca Balint, Greg Casar, and others [1][5]. The lawmakers have framed their absence as a moral stance rather than a mere scheduling conflict. Senator Van Hollen explicitly stated he would not attend because he believes the President is “marching America towards fascism,” while Senator Murphy argued that attending would provide a “veneer of legitimacy” to what he characterized as corruption and lawlessness [1][4]. Senator Markey further emphasized this sentiment, stating that the group refused to “bow to a king” [5].

Strategic Divergence and Leadership Response

While the progressive wing mobilizes for the counter-rally, Democratic leadership has adopted a nuanced approach to the evening. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated on Tuesday, February 17, his “present intention” to be at the State of the Union [1]. By Wednesday, Jeffries clarified the caucus’s strategy during a press conference, stating that the options for members were to “attend with silent defiance, or to not attend” [3]. However, reports suggest Jeffries is encouraging members to avoid splitting their presence between events to prevent distractions, asserting his resolve to remain in the chamber by noting, “We’re not going to his house, he’s coming to our house” [5].

Sources

State of Union Government shutdown