House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has confirmed his attendance at President Trump's upcoming address to a joint session of Congress, despite several other Democrats choosing to boycott the event. Jeffries emphasized the importance of a "strong opposition party" presence, ready to act as a check on the administration.
While acknowledging that attendance is a personal decision, Jeffries stressed the need for a "determined and dignified Democratic presence" in the chamber. He highlighted the House's role as belonging to the American people and affirmed their commitment to representing their constituents.
Several Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Patty Murray, have publicly announced their decision to skip the address, citing concerns about the President's actions and policies. Murray criticized Trump's handling of federal agencies and his disregard for the law as reasons for her boycott.
This address comes less than two months into President Trump's second term and follows a history of contentious interactions between the President and Democratic leaders, including the now-infamous incident of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi tearing up Trump's speech in 2020.
Jeffries reiterated the Democratic focus on addressing the high cost of living for Americans and opposing what he termed "far-right extremism" from the Republican party.
