Democrats to skip Trump State of the Union for National Mall rally
Democrats are planning to skip President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address and instead hold a counter-rally on the National Mall called the “People’s State of the Union,” organized by MoveOn and MeidasTouch to present an choice vision for the country as Trump speaks to Congress. the event is meant to counterprogram against the address and is being streamed online shortly before Trump’s remarks. At least a dozen Democrats from both the Senate and the House are expected to attend, including Sens. chris Murphy, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Tina Smith, and Chris Van Hollen, along with House members such as Rep. Greg Casar, Pramila Jayapal, Yassamin Ansari, Becca Balint, Veronica Escobar, Delia Ramirez, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.The rally reflects ongoing debates within the party about weather to boycott or counter the State of the Union, which is taking place during a partial government shutdown and amid criticism that the speech is being used as a campaign platform.
Democrats to skip Trump’s State of the Union for counter rally on National Mall
At least a dozen House and Senate Democrats will skip President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address next week to instead attend a rally on the National Mall organized to protest the first year of his second term.
Several progressive leaders will use the “People’s State of the Union,” hosted by MoveOn and liberal media outlet MeidasTouch, to present an alternate vision for the country as Trump takes the podium for his second address before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
That list includes Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), considered a 2028 presidential hopeful, as well as Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Joy Reid and Katie Phang, both former MSNBC anchors, will co-host the event, which will be streamed online shortly before Trump’s remarks begin.
“Donald Trump has 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,” Murphy said in a statement. “Democrats have no obligation to reward him with an audience as he lies and attacks people who disagree with him.”
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The National Mall rally gives House Democrats an alternative site they have been considering for a counterprogram to the State of the Union. Last year, Democrats were widely panned for disrupting Trump’s speech to Congress, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) had urged his caucus to sit in “quiet defiance” or not go at all.
Senate Democrats have been discussing a boycott of their own, but most remain undecided for now. Besides Murphy, four Senate Democrats will initially be attending the counter rally, according to a MoveOn press release: Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).
Besides Casar, at least six more House Democrats will be in attendance: Reps. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Becca Balint (D-VT), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ). Jayapal is the former chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
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The rally is just one way Democrats plan to counterprogram the State of the Union, which provides Trump with a venue to tout his domestic and foreign policy agenda. The opposition party traditionally picks an up-and-coming official to deliver a rebuttal address.
This year’s State of the Union will take place in the middle of a partial government shutdown, with Republicans urging Trump to use the address as a “bully pulpit” to cast blame on Democrats for not funding the Department of Homeland Security, which led to a partial government shutdown.
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