When he gives his 2026 State of the Union Address next Tuesday, Donald Trump may be speaking to a partially empty House chamber, according to a report from the New York Times.
In what is being dubbed a “break with tradition,” a substantial number of Democrats will be forgoing Trump’s speech altogether and hosting an alternative eventcalled a “People’s State of the Union.”
“He’s made a mockery of the State of the Union speech and he doesn’t deserve an audience,” said Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-CT).
“He’s going to tell 40 different lies, call Democrats names; he’s going to paper over his corruption, and I don’t feel like what he’s doing dignifies having Democrats there to cloak the speech in a veneer of respectability.”
The alternative event will be held at the National Mall near the Capitol.
“We cannot normalize this moment when Trump is marching our country toward fascism,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). I refuse to be a prop in the chamber as Donald Trump shreds our Constitution and attacks our democracy.”
Trump’s past State of the Union speeches have had more than their share of controversy.
In 2020, Dementia Don attacked Democrats in his address, calling them the “radical left,” which led to then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi tearing up her copy of the speech after Trump concluded.
And in 2019, Trump delivered what may well wind up being the most fact-free speech ever given in the House of Representatives, suggesting that illegal immigrants were to blame for nearly every problem facing the nation.
Can you imagine the look on Trump’s face if 20 to 25 percent of the seats in the House are empty next week? He’s certain to pitch a fit. Then again, that’ll probably be the highlight of his otherwise nonsensical ranting.
