As Americans tune in to President Donald Trump’s fourth official State of the Union address Tuesday, they may expect Democrats to make a scene of one sort or another.
Twelve Democrats have announced they will boycott the speech and instead attend the “People’s State of the Union,” an event organized by the leftist group MoveOn.org.
About 60 Democrats boycotted Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., boycotted his address to a joint session of Congress that year (Trump’s speeches in 2017 and 2025 did not count as official State of the Union addresses).
Eleven Democrats said they would boycott the State of the Union in 2018, and others boycotted the 2020 speech (including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Al Green, D-Texas).
Many Democrats, however, stayed and disrupted the speeches—as many likely will on Tuesday.
1. Laughter
In Feb. 2017, when Trump said, “We have begun to drain the swamp of government corruption,” Democrats laughed and booed.
2. Not Clapping for Low Unemployment
“Something I’m very proud of, African-American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded,” Trump said in the January 2018 State of the Union.
Most Democrats refused to stand—and most appear not to have even clapped—for that news.
3. Russiagate Groans
Democrats groaned in the February 2019 State of the Union when Trump condemned “ridiculous partisan investigations,” a nod to the probe into alleged ties between Trump and Russia.
4. Pelosi Tears Up the Speech
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore up the text of Trump’s State of the Union address in February 2020.
About a week later, she explained that she ripped up the speech as a ploy for attention.
Pelosi hadn’t planned to rip up the speech, but when she “realized most every page had something in it that was objectionable,” she thought it would be a good idea to get some attention.
Speaking to CNN, she lamented that her legislative agenda received “very little press,” and she said, “If you want to get press, you have to get attention.”
“So, I thought, well, let’s get attention on the fact that what he said here today was not true,” she explained.
5. Booing Rush Limbaugh
Trump awarded the Congressional Medal of Freedom to radio host Rush Limbaugh in the 2020 State of the Union address.
When the president made the announcement, Democrats booed and said, “No.”
Ocasio-Cortez released a video condemning Limbaugh as a “virulent racist.”
6. Al Green Escorted Out
Green raised his cane, repeatedly shouting at Trump during the joint address last year. House Speaker Mike Johnson eventually ordered the sergeant at arms to remove Green.
7. Signs
Also last year, many Democrats held signs protesting Trump. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., held a sign reading, “This is not normal.” Stansbury used the attention from her “protest” to fundraise for her reelection campaign.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., reportedly held a sign reading, “Cut Elon, NOT Social Security.” This referred to Tesla co-founder Elon Musk, who was heading the Department of Government Efficiency at the time.
The Daily Signal will be covering the speech in real time, so if Democrats pull off any other disruptions, you can find them here.
