Home Minority Whip Katherine Clark instructed ABC Information she is not going to attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union handle on Tuesday night time, making her the highest-ranking Home Democrat to skip the occasion.
“And let me let you know why,” Clark instructed ABC’s Linsey Davis in an unique interview. “What now we have seen from this president is a collection of lies, of disrespect for the American folks. He campaigned that he would decrease prices on Day 1, he would preserve folks secure and safe. And he has accomplished simply the alternative.”
“So, I’ll spend my night, whereas he’s spewing his misinformation tonight, speaking to my constituents about their state of the union and the way this administration is impacting them,” Clark stated.
Dozens of Democrats, not less than 45, are set to skip the State of the Union handle. Many as an alternative are opting to participate in a counter-program on the Nationwide Mall sponsored by the progressive group MoveOn.
Home Minority Whip Katherine Clark joined by Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries speaks a press convention on the U.S. Capitol, February 4, 2026 in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos
Home Speaker Mike Johnson earlier Tuesday criticized Democrats who shall be absent, saying it was “shameful that they’d boycott an handle.”
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries has made the case for members of his caucus to attend with out outbursts or to sit down it out altogether.
“It is our expectation that there shall be some members who attend and attend in silent defiance, and there shall be different members who will select to not attend. And it is as much as each particular person member to make the choice that makes essentially the most sense for his or her constituents,” Jeffries instructed reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
Nonetheless, a majority of Democrats are anticipated to attend Trump’s speech, which is among the president’s most high-profile alternatives to address Americans ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Notable company of Democratic lawmakers embrace survivors of late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, the enterprise proprietor who efficiently challenged Trump’s international tariffs and people affected by the administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger will ship the Democratic response following Trump’s remarks. The 2 foremost themes she is going to give attention to are affordability and the chaos the Trump administration has precipitated at house and overseas, based on Spanberger’s group.
