People's State Of The Union: Democrats join people's state of the union rally on National Mall during Trump's address
More than two dozen Democratic lawmakers planned to attend the people's state of the union rally on the National Mall on Tuesday night instead of listening to President Donald Trump's address inside the House chamber. The counter-event, hosted by MeidasTouch and MoveOn. org and featuring federal workers, immigrants and others affected by Trump's policies, served as a focal point for a growing boycott and a separate Democratic response.
People's State Of The Union draws hundreds, celebrities and a staged memorial
Hundreds of people gathered on the National Mall for the People's State Of The Union, with attendees holding signs that read "No Money for ICE" and "Healthcare Not Warfare. " One person on stage carried a large poster with the photographs of the more than 30 people who had been killed in dealings with ICE since Trump took office in 2025. Politicians and celebrities also gathered at related venues, including Robert De Niro and Mark Ruffalo at the National Press Club.
More than two dozen lawmakers boycott the speech; list included roughly 30 members
More than two dozen Democratic lawmakers chose the people's state of the union rally over the president's address inside the House chamber. Earlier in the day a list of about 30 lawmakers who are boycotting the president's address was shared and included Sen. Chris Murphy, senators Chris Von Hollen of Maryland and Adam Schiff of California, and Rep. Greg Casar of Texas. Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen was named among lawmakers who attended the rally; a correction later noted he had been misidentified as a congressman in earlier text and that error was corrected.
Sen. Chris Murphy, guest Fereshteh Ganjavi and an onstage confrontation
The crowd chanted "Abolish ICE! Abolish ICE!" as Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., introduced his guest, Afghan refugee and immigrant advocate Fereshteh Ganjavi. Murphy said, "I'm not at the State of the Union speech tonight because these are not normal times, " and added, "And I'm not at the State of the Union speech tonight, because you're not going to hear about the state of the union. " He later said, "The true state of the union is this, this union is in crisis right now. Our cities are under attack by lawless law enforcement. Our democracy is wilting under ceaseless attack from a president who wants to be a despot. " Moments after Murphy spoke, a Trump supporter pushed through the barricades and confronted him; an organizer pulled the heckler off the stage as the crowd booed.
MoveOn. org and MeidasTouch organized the event; leaders urged action and drew a large online audience
Progressive groups MeidasTouch and MoveOn. org hosted the event. MoveOn's executive director, Katie Bethell, told attendees the group had helped organize the boycott "because we know that Donald Trump's State of the Union will bear no resemblance to what's actually happening in this country today. " Just before 9pm ET there were an estimated 220, 000 live viewers of the event on YouTube and other platforms, Liz Cattaneo, a spokesperson at MoveOn, said. Several speakers at the rally encouraged Americans to exercise their right to vote; one attendee shouted, "Voting is our superpower. "
Calls for release of the Epstein files, impeachment plans and a Palestinian activist's message
Attendees chanted "Release the files!" as Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania took the stage; a nearby protester held a sign that read "Release ALL the Files. " Lee said the real state of the union is a "government that would rather protect powerful people in the Epstein files than the women and the girls who are sexually abused. " Earlier on Tuesday Lee announced she would introduce articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi for refusing to comply with a subpoena to release the full unredacted Epstein files. More than two hours into the rally the crowd erupted into the chant, "The people united will never be defeated, " led by Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi, who was targeted by the Trump administration for deportation in 2025. Mahdawi asked attendees to repeat: "We the people, say it loud and clear, to President Trump and his cabinet: we are not afraid of you, because the love that shines in our heart is much brighter and more powerful than the darkness of fear that is blinding you. "
Democratic response, onstage hosts and corrections
Gov. Spanberger delivered the Democratic response to the president's State of the Union. Host Joy Reid addressed an onstage interruption with the words, "Attention all Maga trolls: your bullshit is not welcome here, " adding, "We are here to hear the truth and to hear from impacted people. " Coverage included a correction that had initially misidentified Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen as a congressman; that text was corrected and the error was regretted. Byline credits for this combined coverage include Lisa Desjardins, Liz Landers and Deema Zein; Josh Boak and Michelle L. Price; Louis Jacobson and Amy Sherman; and Will Weissert and Michelle L. Price.
