On Tuesday, March 4, Donald Trump will address a joint Congress for the first time in his second term, but several federal lawmakers will not be in attendance. Several Democrats, including Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, have let their constituents that they will not be in attendance. Instead, Ocasio-Cortez will be “posting and chatting” with voters on social media and Sen. Patty Murray will be “speaking with constituents.”
“The state of the union is that the President is spitting in the face of the law. He is letting an unelected billionaire fire cancer researchers and wreck federal agencies like the Social Security Administration at will. I won’t be attending tomorrow’s Joint Address,” Murray wrote.
“Trump’s childish and shameful actions in the Oval Office towards Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as his barrage of illegal attacks against public servants and vulnerable groups, have disgraced and embarrassed our country. His actions are beneath the office of the President and do not merit my attendance at this Joint Address,” Rep. Diana DeGette adds.
Despite the number of Democrats electing not to attend the event, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will be in attendance. On Monday, he issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to members of his party.
“I write with respect to President Donald Trump’s scheduled address on Tuesday to a Joint Session of Congress. Given my responsibilities in the House, I plan to attend the speech, along with other members of the Democratic leadership, to make clear to the nation that there is a strong opposition party ready, willing and able to serve as a check and balance on the excesses of the administration.,”Jeffries wrote.
“The decision to attend the Joint Session is a personal one and we understand that members will come to different conclusions. However, it is important to have a strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence in the chamber. The House as an institution belongs to the American people, and as their representatives we will not be run off the block or bullied.”
