Top House Democrat Joins Massachusetts Lawmakers Boycotting State of the Union
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark will skip the Feb. 24 State of the Union, joining dozens of Democrats who plan boycotts or counterprogramming as protests over President Trump's record.
Overview
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark said she will not attend the State of the Union on Feb. 24, making her the highest-ranking House Democrat to boycott, she said in an exclusive interview.
Democrats are protesting President Trump's record and rhetoric, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters members could either attend in silent defiance or not attend.
Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley said they will attend the People's State of the Union on the National Mall, and Pressley said she will spotlight immigrant children detained by ICE, her statement said.
A count found roughly 45 to more than 80 Democrats planning to skip the address, and at least 30 representatives and senators are set to attend the People's State of the Union, the count showed.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will deliver the Democratic response, and House Speaker Mike Johnson called the boycott "detestable" while urging colleagues to maintain decorum, he said in an interview.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story by foregrounding Democratic dissent and critical voices while treating direct quotes as source content; they lead with Katherine Clark's decision and her strong accusations, highlight the counterprogram and notable guests tied to administration controversies, and include brief GOP rebuttals, creating a narrative focused on Democratic protest rather than neutral balance.
Sources (17)
FAQ
House Minority Whip Katherine Clark is the highest-ranking House Democrat announced to skip the State of the Union address.
The 'People's State of the Union' is counterprogramming on the National Mall organized by Democrats as an alternative to attending President Trump's State of the Union, focusing on issues like economic concerns and constitutional defense.
Lawmakers including Sens. Ed Markey, Chris Murphy, Jeff Merkley, Tina Smith, Chris Van Hollen, and Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Pramila Jayapal, Becca Balint, and Greg Casar plan to attend the People's State of the Union.
Rep. Pressley is boycotting to uplift children detained and traumatized by ICE, spotlighting cases like those at the Dilley Detention Center and in Massachusetts, criticizing Trump's immigration policies as child abuse.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called the Democratic boycott 'detestable,' urging respect for the office, decorum, institution, and tradition of the State of the Union address.
History
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