Some Connecticut Democrats joining protest of Trump's State of the Union address
Some Democrats are planning to skip President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address, with many choosing to go to a different event instead.
At least three members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation plan to attend what Democrats are calling the People’s State of the Union at the National Mall.
“The people need to be heard on this,” Rep. John Larson (D-1st District) said.
Larson, Rep. Jim Himes (D-4th District), and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) all plan to attend.
Larson said Murphy is one of the organizers, but he could not be reached for comment Friday.
Other members of the delegation, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), and Reps. Joe Courtney (D-2nd District) and Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd) both plan to attend Trump’s address.
Blumenthal said he plans to show his disapproval during the speech.
“Being in the room, face to face, delivering a message through silent defiance, arms folded, sitting is a very effective way,” he said.
A spokesman for Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-5th District) said she doesn’t plan to attend the State of the Union, but did not clarify when asked if she’ll be at the Democratic alternative.
Blumenthal and Larson both said they have the same concerns, including questions about where Trump will make factually inaccurate statements.
They also plan to object to some of what Trump talks about, including immigration, which was recently repealed, and what Democrats see as abuses of power.
“Whether it’s in Minnesota with ICE, whether it’s being struck down with his tariffs, he is not above the law,” Larson said.
Rep. Patrick Callahan (R-New Fairfield) said Democrats should attend the address.
“He’s still the president,” he said. “If you lost the game, figure out a way to win it next time.”
Callahan noted that Republicans attended Gov. Ned Lamont’s (D-Connecticut) State of the State address.
Some Republican did walk about of the room when Lamont told ICE to “go home,” and one representative stood up to show her jacket stated “ICE In.”
“Here, we sat through the governor’s state of the state address that I thought was very partisan, but he’s still my governor, and he’s still someone I have to work with to get legislation across,” Callahan said.
Some members of Connecticut’s delegation are already announcing their guests for Tuesday.
Larson, for example, is bringing Moises Ricardo, a Cuban national seeking U.S. Citizenship. He talked exclusively with NBC Connecticut in December, when his application was stalled and an interview was canceled amid Trump’s immigration pause for 19 counties.
“People that are here and legally pursuing citizenship,” Larson said of Ricardo. “We ought to be encouraging that. We are a nation of immigrants, that’s who built this country.”
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