Five years after Nancy Pelosi famously tore up Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech, Democrats are gearing up to make a statement during Trump’s upcoming address to Congress in 2025. Reports suggest that some Democratic lawmakers plan to disrupt the event by walking out when Trump delivers lines they find objectionable.
According to Axios, members of the party are considering various forms of protest. Ideas include using props like noisemakers, signs with anti-Trump messages, and even hand clappers. There’s also talk of coordinating outfits for the occasion. The Democratic Women’s Caucus is suggesting pink attire, while female members of the Congressional Black Caucus might wear black. Supporters of Ukraine could show solidarity by wearing blue and yellow.
In a pointed move, some Democrats are inviting former federal employees as their guests to protest the mass firings that occurred during Trump’s presidency. This follows a precedent set by Pelosi in 2020, when she made headlines by ripping up Trump’s speech while sitting behind him.
On Monday, Trump announced on Truth Social that his address would be significant, promising to "tell it like it is." While his speech will resemble a traditional State of the Union, it will focus on his legislative priorities and is officially classified as an address to Congress.
Historically, some presidents have opted to call their first speeches to Congress something other than a State of the Union. For instance, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton referred to theirs as “Administration Goals” or similar titles. This trend continued with George W. Bush’s “Budget Message” in 2001.
As the date approaches, the atmosphere in Congress is expected to be charged, with both sides preparing for a potentially contentious event.
