Democrats seek to take on Trump at State of the Union
By Cristina Marcos - 02/05/19 06:00 AM EST
Democrats want to use the State of the Union address on Tuesday night to illustrate their efforts to take on President Trump now that they have a majority in the House.
Fresh off their political victory in the government shutdown — which led Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) approval ratings to rise in a CNN poll released Monday — Democrats are eager to show that they’re actively showing up and resisting Trump’s agenda.
While 14 Democrats made a point of boycotting the speech last year, so far only five have said they’ll skip this year’s address to Congress.
Viewers at home will primarily see Pelosi seated behind Trump for the first time, offering a partisan contrast next to Vice President Pence in how they respond to what the president says in his speech.
And when Trump looks at his audience, he’ll see a congressional body that includes record numbers of women and minorities.
Scores of Democrats are also bringing guests designed to send political messages.
They include immigrants who worked at Trump’s New Jersey golf club without documentation and people affected by the Trump administration’s family separations policy at the southern border.
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), a senior Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) member who skipped last year’s address, will be in the chamber this year. He plans to join Democratic women in wearing white to show solidarity with suffragettes and acknowledge the record number of women serving in the House.
“Mr. Rush wants the President to look out and see the Democratic majority that will serve as a strong Constitutional check on his power,†said Ryan Johnson, the lawmaker’s communications director.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/428450-democrats-seek-to-take-on-trump-at-state-of-the-union