A handful of Democrats will add to a tradition of boycotting President Donald Trump as he gives a joint address to Congress on Tuesday.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) led the charge as he told CNN on Sunday that he would not be attending the joint address, further labeling it as a “MAGA pep rally.”
“Listen, the case I’m making to Democrats is that we have to fight every single day. Every single day,” Murphy said. “Republicans flood the zone. Democrats have to flood the zone.”
Since Murphy’s decision was made public, a handful of Democrats have joined him in boycotting the address, with many being his Democratic colleagues in the Senate. Among those are:
- Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), one of the most senior members of the Senate, who serves as the mighty Appropriations Committee chairwoman.
- Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), a former House member, now known for his aggressive liberalism and environmental agenda.
- Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, announced Tuesday on X that he will “start attending when he [Trump] starts following the law.”
House members have been less inclined to publicly state their denouncement. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has urged a “strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber.” He has encouraged members to bring guests who have been hurt by Trump’s agenda, saying, “The House as an institution belongs to the American people, and as their representatives, we will not be run off the block or bullied,” in a “Dear Colleague” letter.
In efforts to fight back, Jeffries will have House Democrats “stand together” Wednesday after the address where they will “feature the voices of the American people.”
Rep. Becca Balint (D-VT) has opted to sit out the address with the senators and join them for “alternate programming.”
“I attended the inauguration so I basically know what to expect in this speech,” Balint said. “And it’s not going to be a unifying message in any way, shape, or form.”
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortex (D-NY), who made it known she was skipping out on Trump’s inauguration, told the Washington Examiner that she is not sure if she will attend and does not have any guests that plan on coming with her.
“Let me make myself clear,” Ocasio-Cortez said on TikTok ahead of the inauguration. “I don’t celebrate rapists. So no, I’m not going to the inauguration tomorrow.”
This story has been updated to reflect Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) is not among the boycotters.