Trump’s State of the Union address under Threat

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House Democrats are preparing a variety of responses to President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, signaling that the annual speech could become a high-profile moment of protest amid deep partisan tensions.

The address comes as Washington grapples with a partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, with Democrats and the White House at odds over proposed reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The standoff intensified after immigration agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens in Minnesota, further inflaming debate over enforcement policies.

Some Democratic lawmakers are planning a subdued form of protest by skipping the speech altogether. Others have indicated they may stage more visible demonstrations, including walking out mid-address or bringing guests whose personal stories highlight what they describe as the real-world consequences of Trump’s policies.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) suggested he may leave the chamber during the speech, saying he expects to reach a point where he feels compelled to walk out. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) also signaled he is considering some form of protest, criticizing what he described as corruption, unconstitutional actions and damaging foreign policy decisions by the president.

Several Democrats plan to use invited guests to underscore their message. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) said she will bring a constituent who operates a nonprofit daycare and advocates for the Affordable Care Act, framing the invitation as a way to spotlight concerns over child care and health coverage. A spokesperson for Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) said she will also host a guest affected by health care challenges, describing the speech as an opportunity to amplify stories of families struggling under current policies.

Presidential addresses to Congress have long served as moments for the minority party to register dissent — sometimes quietly, sometimes dramatically. Last year, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) interrupted Trump’s speech, prompting then-Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to have him removed from the chamber. The House later voted to censure Green in a largely party-line decision. Other Democrats staged walkouts or held signs during the address, while members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus wore pink as a coordinated show of protest.

This year, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has reportedly advised members to either attend in “silent defiance” or skip the speech altogether. Some lawmakers have already decided. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) are among those planning not to attend. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has also indicated she is unlikely to be present, having previously opted to provide live commentary online instead of sitting in the chamber.

Others, like Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.), have said they feel a responsibility to attend as senior members of the House, though Bera stated he will ultimately withhold his presence in protest of what he views as constitutional overreach and ethical concerns.

Some Democrats are calling for coordinated counterprogramming to present an alternative vision during the speech, particularly as pressure mounts from the party’s base to push back more forcefully against the administration. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) said the goal should be to ensure that the concerns of working families and communities of color remain central to the national conversation.

With the Department of Homeland Security funding fight unresolved, immigration policy is expected to loom large over the address. Whether the shutdown continues into the speech — and how Democrats ultimately choose to respond — could shape the political optics of one of the year’s most closely watched events.