{"id":2571058,"date":"2026-02-18T12:08:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-to-skip-trump-state-of-the-union-for-national-mall-rally\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T12:09:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:09:42","slug":"democrats-to-skip-trump-state-of-the-union-for-national-mall-rally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-to-skip-trump-state-of-the-union-for-national-mall-rally\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats to skip Trump State of the Union for National Mall rally"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-to-skip-trump-state-of-the-union-for-national-mall-rally%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571058&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democrats are planning to skip President Donald Trump\u2019s State of the Union address and instead hold a counter-rally on the National Mall called the \u201cPeople\u2019s State of the Union,\u201d 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\u2019s 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.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Democrats to skip Trump&rsquo;s State of the Union for counter rally on National Mall<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2509112\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>At least a dozen House and Senate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democrats<\/a> will skip President Donald Trump&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-of-the-union\/\">State of the Union<\/a> address next week to instead attend a rally on the National Mall organized to protest the first year of his second term.<\/p>\n<p>Several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-issues-injunction-blocking-several-directives-from-l-a-countys-new-controversial-d-a\/\" title=\"Judge Issues Injunction Blocking Several Directives From L.A. County\u2019s New Controversial D.A.\">progressive leaders<\/a> will use the &ldquo;People&rsquo;s State of the Union,&rdquo; hosted by MoveOn and liberal media outlet MeidasTouch, to present an alternate vision for the country as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Trump<\/a> takes the podium for his second address before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4460987\/democratic-senate-hopeful-haley-stevens-barrage-online-trolling\/\">Democratic Senate hopeful Haley Stevens faces barrage of online trolling<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4457594\/aoc-munich-gaffe-2028-race\/\">AOC&#8217;s Munich gaffes reveal possible 2028 challenges<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4461184\/megyn-kelly-randy-fine-muslim-dogs-post\/\">Megyn Kelly rips &#8216;sweaty man&#8217; Randy Fine for going &#8216;full bigot&#8217; in anti-Muslim post<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>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&rsquo;s remarks begin.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Donald Trump has made a mockery of the State of the Union speech &mdash; taking a moment that is meant to bring the country together and turning it into a campaign rally to spew hatred and division,&rdquo; Murphy said in a statement. &ldquo;Democrats have no obligation to reward him with an audience as he lies and attacks people who disagree with him.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4460964\/trump-dhs-shutdown-bully-pulpit-state-union\/\"><strong>TRUMP TO GET DHS SHUTDOWN &lsquo;BULLY PULPIT&rsquo; WITH STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>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&rsquo;s speech to Congress, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) had urged his caucus to sit in &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >quiet defiance&#038;rdquo<\/a>; or not go at all.<\/p>\n<p>Senate Democrats have been discussing a boycott of their own, but most remain undecided for now. <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">Besides Murphy, four Senate Democrats will initially be attending the counter rally, according to a MoveOn&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/front.moveon.org\/new-senators-markey-merkley-murphy-smith-van-hollen-reps-ansari-balint-casar-escobar-jayapal-ramirez-watson-coleman-and-more-boycott-sotu\/\">press release<\/a>: Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).<\/span><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4455884\/senate-democrats-weigh-skipping-trump-state-of-the-union-speech\/\"><strong>SENATE DEMOCRATS WEIGH SKIPPING TRUMP STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-big-tech-and-media-actions-to-steal-the-election-heres-whats-going-on-in-pennsylvania-and-michigan\/\" title=\"Democrat, Big Tech and Media Actions to Steal the Election \u2013 Here\u2019s What\u2019s Going on in Pennsylvania and Michigan\">year&#038;rsquo<\/a>;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 &ldquo;bully pulpit&rdquo; to cast blame on Democrats for not funding the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/government-shutdown\/\">Department of Homeland Security<\/a>, which led to a partial government shutdown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats skip Trump&#8217;s SOTU for counter-rally on Mall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2571059,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25344627441316.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3685,33612,51662],"class_list":["post-2571058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-democrats","tag-national-mall","tag-state-of-the-union"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25344627441316.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571058"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571062,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571058\/revisions\/2571062"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}