Summary
About half of the Democrats in the U.S. Congress chose not to attend President Trump's State of the Union address. Some Democratic leaders and many members organized alternative events as a show of protest.
Key Facts
- Approximately half of House and Senate Democrats did not attend the State of the Union address.
- The boycott was organized by Democratic members as a protest against President Trump.
- Key Democratic figures like Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu did not attend.
- Around 20 Senate Democrats and just under 110 House Democrats were present at the event.
- Democrats organized alternative events, including a "People's State of the Union" protest.
- Some Democrats started leaving the speech shortly after it began.
- Rep. Al Green was escorted out for holding a protest sign during the speech.
