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Democrats, Trump Trade Jabs During Fiery SOTU Moment: "Liar"
Half of Washington’s Democratic lawmakers boycotted the address, citing harms from Trump’s policies on health care, tariffs, and immigration, while others attended with guests opposing administration actions.
On Tuesday, half of Washington's congressional delegation skipped the State of the Union while Sen. Patty Murray delivered a nearly 20-minute speech criticizing President Trump.
Anger over policies on health care, Medicaid and tariffs led Democrats to protest, with Sen. Maria Cantwell saying she was focusing on the SAVE Act, recently passed by House Republicans.
Bringing guests to the gallery, lawmakers signaled rebuke by inviting Steve Hobbs and Bill Plucker, while others joined the 'People's State of the Union' or walked out holding 'Save Medicaid' placards.
The White House said last week that Democrats' absence reflected votes against American interests, while Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Virginia, and Sen. Alex Padilla, California, delivered competing Democratic responses.
The coverage framed the episode as evidence of party disunity, suggesting Democrats appeared fractured with different opposition approaches; this year, with Democrats out of power in Congress, leaders urged caucus discipline in response.