Van Hollen, McClain Delaney boycotting Trump State of the Union

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U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney and Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland are among a group of Democrat lawmakers who will boycott President Donald Trump’s Feb. 24 State of the Union address and instead attend a “People’s State of the Union” event on the National Mall.

Both Van Hollen and McClain Delaney have been vocal recently about their opposition to a proposed ICE immigrant detention center near Williamsport. The Department of Homeland Security and ICE recently purchased an 825,620-square-foot warehouse along Wright Road.

In announcing they will boycott the State of the Union, both lawmakers referred to what they described as Trump’s lawlessness during his second term as president.

MeidasTouch and MoveOn LIVE in DC are presenting the “People’s State of the Union,” according to the MoveOn post at Mobilize.us. Among the event partners are Indivisible, Interfaith Alliance, Center for Popular Democracy, Climate Power, Economic Security Project Action, Families Over Billionaires and Free DC.

“At the State of the Union (SOTU), Republicans in Congress are once again bending the knee to Trump and hanging their constituents out to dry,” reads a statement at the “People’s State of the Union” Mobilize.us webpage. “Nobody should participate in Trump’s vanity project, and that’s why Democratic leaders, MoveOn members, and everyday Americans most impacted by Trump’s chaos are coming together for the People’s State of the Union.”

A spokesperson for Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, Maryland’s other Democratic senator, did not immediately respond Feb. 20 to an inquiry from The Herald-Mail about whether she planned to attend the State of the Union or the “People’s State of the Union.”

What McClain Delaney said

McClain Delaney announced late Thursday, Feb. 19 that she will not attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24, according to a news release from her office.

“I have determined that my presence at the State of the Union would not meaningfully serve my constituents in Maryland’s Sixth District. The President’s destructive and lawless actions over the past year have harmed Marylanders — making life less affordable, undermining food security and their access to healthcare, and devastating family farms and small businesses across our region,” McClain Delaney said in the release.

McClain Delaney took issue with the Trump administration’s mass firing of federal workers, trade wars, ICE actions, AffordableCare Act and Medicare funding cuts, “false and inflammatory online attacks” against Gov. Wes Moore and Team Maryland, and “political retribution” by denying FEMA emergency funds to Allegany County for last year’s historic flooding, according to the release.

“I will continue fighting their destructive policies at every turn. At the same time, I am working with local and state leaders to restore trust, solve problems, and advance practical solutions that improve affordability and strengthen our communities. While traveling in my district this week, I released my ‘Costs Down, Opportunity Up’ affordability agenda which aims to lower prices, expand opportunity, advance Medicare for All, build more homes, and ensure everyone pays their fair share. I look forward to talking about my agenda alongside my Congressional colleagues at the People’s State of the Union,” McClain Delaney said in the release.

What Van Hollen said

Van Hollen announced Feb. 18 on X (formerly Twitter) that he won’t attend the State of the Union.

“Trump is marching America towards fascism, and I refuse to normalize his shredding of our Constitution & democracy,” Van Hollen’s post states.

Van Hollen, in a statement from his office on Friday, Feb. 20, reiterated that message.

“I will not normalize Donald Trump’s march toward fascism by attending his state of the union address. We cannot pretend this is business as usual. Trump’s second term has been defined by utter lawlessness and contempt for our Constitution — from his out-of-control ICE operation terrorizing our communities, to relentless attacks on our federal workforce and the essential services they provide, to a full-out assault on the individual constitutional rights we hold dear,” he stated.

“And all the while he has leveraged the power of the presidency to enrich himself and his billionaire buddies at the expense of every day Americans. He is presiding over the most corrupt White House in American history, selling out our national interests to the highest bidder. I look forward to joining real patriots who are standing up and speaking out against Trump’s lawless agenda — as we fight to protect our democracy and the country we love.”

Which Democrats are boycotting?

The other senators not attending the speech are Tina Smith of Minnesota, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, according to USA TODAY.

The other members of the House not attending are Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Becca Balint of Vermont, Greg Casar of Texas, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Veronica Escobar of Texas, Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey.

When is the State of the Union and how can you watch it?

Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union address on Feb. 24 starting at 9 p.m. ET. Coverage of the event is expected to run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. USA TODAY will live stream coverage, both on its YouTube Channel and website.

Apart from USA TODAY’s live stream, the State of the Union will be broadcast on all major television networks, including ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, NPR and PBS.

Reporting by Julie E. Greene, The Herald-Mail / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.

USA TODAY staff writers Zachary Schermele and Fernando Cervantes Jr. contributed to this story.