Democrats to Boycott State of the Union With Progressive Activists
21st February 2026
Twelve Democrats plan to skip President Donald Trump’s Feb. 24 State of the Union address to attend a left-wing activist event titled the “People’s State of the Union” instead.
The event, hosted by progressive political advocacy group MoveOn and left-wing media outlet MeidasTouch, will be held on the National Mall during Trump’s State of the Union address as a form of protesting the Trump administration, according to a MoveOn press release.
“We cannot give Trump the attention he wants, or validate his lies to the American people,” MoveOn states on a flyer for the event. “We cannot treat this SOTU as business as usual.”
The event, hosted by former MSNBC anchors Joy Reid and Katie Phang, will feature people “impacted” by Trump, including Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.; Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.; Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.; Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; and the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas.
“Democrats have no obligation to reward him with an audience as he lies and attacks people who disagree with him,” Murphy wrote in MoveOn’s press release.