{"id":2571128,"date":"2026-02-18T15:11:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jeffries-democrats-should-sit-in-silent-defiance-during-state-of-the-union\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T15:12:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:12:33","slug":"jeffries-democrats-should-sit-in-silent-defiance-during-state-of-the-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jeffries-democrats-should-sit-in-silent-defiance-during-state-of-the-union\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeffries: Democrats should sit in &#8216;silent defiance&#8217; during State of the Union"},"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%2Fjeffries-democrats-should-sit-in-silent-defiance-during-state-of-the-union%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=2571128&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>House Minority Leader hakeem Jeffries has laid out two options for Democrats attending President Trump\u2019s State of the Union: attend with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/melania-trump-pens-letter-pleading-for-peace-from-putin-in-ukraine-war\/\" title=\"Melania Trump pens letter pleading for peace from Putin in Ukraine war\">silent defiance<\/a> or not attend at all and participate in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rfk-jr-team-promises-alternate-programming-to-counter-cnn-fake-debate-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"RFK Jr. team promises alternate programming to counter \u2018CNN fake debate\u2019 - Washington Examiner\">alternate programming<\/a>.Some Democrats will skip the address to hold a counter-rally on the National Mall, with members including Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Greg Casar, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal among those weighing or planning not to attend. The move follows notable disruptions by Democrats during Trump\u2019s previous address,such as an interruption and other protest gestures. Jeffries says he will personally attend the State of the Union and emphasized that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >democrats won\u2019<\/a>t be cowed.  <\/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\">Jeffries lays ground rules for House Democrats attending State of the Union<\/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>House Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hakeem-jeffries\/\">Hakeem Jeffries<\/a> (D-NY) is giving his Democratic members two options: Attend President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>&lsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-of-the-union\/\">State of the Union<\/a> silently or do not attend at all.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The two options that are in front of us, in our house, is either attend with silent defiance, or to not attend, and send a message to Donald Trump in that fashion, which will include participation in a variety of different alternate programming,&rdquo; Jeffries said during a press conference on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4461578\/democrats-skip-trump-state-of-the-union-national-mall-rally\/\">Democrats to skip Trump&#8217;s State of the Union for counter rally on National Mall<\/a><\/li>\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<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>His comments come as a handful of Democrats from both chambers of Congress have announced they will not attend Trump&rsquo;s address. They will instead <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4461578\/democrats-skip-trump-state-of-the-union-national-mall-rally\/\">hold a counter-rally on the National Mall<\/a>. Those members include Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), Congressional Progressive Caucus chairman Greg Casar (D-TX), former Progressive Caucus chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and other progressive colleagues.<\/p>\n<p>The alternate programming and orders of &ldquo;silent defiance&rdquo; come after the behavior from Democrats during Trump&rsquo;s joint address before Congress last year. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) stood up and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3337303\/rep-al-green-removed-house-chamber-protesting-trump-address\/\">interrupted Trump&rsquo;s speech<\/a> by yelling at him, which led to the congressman being escorted out and eventually censured by the House. Other Democrats walked out during the middle of Trump&rsquo;s speech, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3337353\/democrats-fashion-statement-trump-address-pink\/\">wore intentional colors<\/a>, or held up signage protesting the president.<\/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>Jeffries said he will personally attend the president&rsquo;s address. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re not going to Donald Trump&rsquo;s house. He&rsquo;s coming to our house. It&rsquo;s my view that you don&rsquo;t let anyone ever run you off of your block,&rdquo; Jeffries said.<\/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>Jeffries: Dems can attend SOTU quietly or skip<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2571129,"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\/2025\/12\/121225_WEX_HOUSE-6-e1765560338699.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3685,50470,74049],"class_list":["post-2571128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-democrats","tag-jeffries-2","tag-silent-defiance"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/121225_WEX_HOUSE-6-e1765560338699.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571128","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\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571128"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571128\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571132,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571128\/revisions\/2571132"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}