President Trump is expected to call for unity during his second State of the Union address — but a handful of Democrats aren't planning on listening to the president's pleas Tuesday night, as they don't plan to attend the historic event. Several of Trump's harshest critics will be in the crowd, particularly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who will take the seat right behind the president. Pelosi sparred with Trump to reschedule the address while the country faced the longest government shutdown in the history of the U.S. over an ongoing debate about funding for a proposed border wall. Some of his 2020 rivals, such as Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey, will also be attending. Many Democrats are trolling Trump with their specific State of the Union guests — inviting government employees recently impacted by the shutdown, people living in the U.S. affected by the ongoing immigration debate, among others. DEMOCRATS TROLL TRUMP WITH STATE OF THE UNION GUESTS However, a handful of Democrats believe they're making a bigger statement by not going at all. Here's a look at some lawmakers who have said they won't attend Trump's speech Tuesday. Rep. Earl Blumenauer It's no surprise Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said he would stay home during the State of the Union this year – just like he did during Trump’s inauguration and his first address. "The thought of spending Tuesday night in the House Chamber listening to the reckless, self-centered man who occupies the White House holds no interest for me. Just like in past years, I plan to skip a speech that will be filled with lies, deception and divisiveness," Blumenauer said in a statement to The Hill, though he added that he did invite a guest. The executive director of the World Central Kitchen, Nate Mook, who helped feed government employees recently affected by the shutdown as well as hurricane victims in recent years, was given a ticket to the event on behalf of Blumenauer. "The amount of damage, division and confusion Trump has inflicted on the American people over the last six weeks has been a blemish on the new Congress and I refuse to be witness to his continued antics," Blumenauer added to the newspaper. Rep. Steve Cohen Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., also said he would boycott the speech for the second year in a row. "I'll be joining @RepJohnLewis and others in boycotting the #SOTU. I’ll come to the House Chamber for the State of the Union when I can hear from a president who will tell the #Truth. I’ll watch on TV, Trump’s preferred medium, although I won’t be his audience, his believing base," Cohen announced on Twitter Monday. Rep. John Lewis As Cohen mentioned, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., also said he wouldn't go to the State of the Union, according to The Hill. Lewis skipped last year's speech because of Trump's reported comments about “s--thole" countries, saying he couldn't "in good conscience be in a room" with Trump because of his rhetoric at the time. WHY ARE WOMEN WEARING WHITE TO STATE OF THE UNION? DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS AIM TO SEND 'LOUD AND CLEAR' MESSAGE The civil rights icon has not yet released a statement detailing his plans for this year's State of the Union address. Rep. Hank Johnson Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said he'd "rather be somewhere else than listening to @realDonaldTrump come onto our floor & start talking about groups of people, particularly Latinos, and disparaging them as a people." However, Johnson did confirm that he would be attending Stacey Abrams' watch party. Abrams, a former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, will deliver the Democratic response to Trump's State of the Union address. Samantha Ramirez-Herrera, a "Dreamer" and CEO & Founder of Offtharecord.com, was announced as Johnson's State of the Union guest. "#DACA recipients like Samantha are our friends, neighbors & colleagues -- they are a part of our community & their story is #OurHispanicSOTU," he tweeted Tuesday afternoon.<doc-sep>A House Democrat who has been one of the biggest proponents in Congress to impeach President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE announced Tuesday that he will again boycott the State of the Union address. Rep. Al Green Alexander (Al) N. GreenLawmakers roll out legislation to defend pipelines against cyber threats Bipartisan lawmakers call for action on anti-hate crime measures House Democrat sits on Capitol steps to protest extremist threat MORE (D-Texas) has never attended a joint address Trump has delivered to Congress. And he has no plans to break that streak this year, even as Democrats now hold the House majority. That makes Green at least the sixth House Democrat to skip Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday. ADVERTISEMENT "I have judiciously pursued President Trump’s impeachment. However, because he is still unfit yet still in office, I see no compelling reason to end my protest of this event," Green said in a statement. Green said that Trump has "harmed our society by making bigotry and invidious discrimination more acceptable across our country." He went on to connect Trump's actions to the ongoing chaos in Virginia after Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam refused to resign over a racist photo on his medical school yearbook page showing two people wearing blackface and a Ku Klux Klan robe. Green went on to reiterate his call for Northam's resignation. Fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus and other top Democrats in Congress have also urged Northam to step down. "To a certain extent, this governor is ostensibly insulated by the refusal of President Trump to resign, coupled with his not being impeached. Allowing a president who exhibits bigotry to remain in office until the next election while demanding that a governor who has exhibited bigotry leave office before the next election is called ‘having a double standard.’ Bigotry, regardless of the source, is unacceptable. Both must go," Green said. But Green will still have a guest in the House chamber audience even though the lawmaker won't be in attendance. Green invited a relative of Michael Phuong Nguyen, an American currently detained in Vietnam. “As President Trump prepares to have his second summit with Kim Jong Un in Vietnam, it is imperative that Michael Nguyen is at the forefront of his mind and he does not leave Vietnam without Mr. Nguyen or other Americans detained under questionable circumstances there,” Green said. ADVERTISEMENT Green forced two House floor votes on impeachment in the last session of Congress. Both efforts were defeated due to opposition from both Republicans and Democrats. Fifty-eight Democrats voted in support of the first vote forced by Green in December 2017, while 66 Democrats voted for it in January 2018. A total of 14 Democrats boycotted Trump's State of the Union address last year. But a number of those Democrats are attending this year now that they are in the majority. Rep. Bobby Rush Bobby Lee RushGranholm expresses openness to pipeline cyber standards after Colonial attack Feds eye more oversight of pipelines after Colonial attack Shining a light on COINTELPRO's dangerous legacy MORE (D-Ill.), for example, was among the Democrats who skipped Trump's address to Congress last year. This year, however, Rush "wants the president to look out and see the Democratic majority that will serve as a strong Constitutional check on his power,” according to Ryan Johnson, the lawmaker’s communications director. So did Rep. Gregory Meeks Gregory Weldon MeeksMeeks introduces legislation to boost American diplomacy to counter China Democrats call on Blinken to set new sexual misconduct policies at State Department Overnight Defense: Israeli Security Cabinet votes for cease-fire | Senators urge expedited visas for Afghans who helped US troops | Pentagon pushes for more military vaccinations MORE (D-N.Y.), who is going this time around. "This year, Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiGOP leaders face new calls to boot Greene Biden, Bass press for police reform after meeting Floyd family Kinzinger calls for Greene to be removed from GOP conference after Holocaust remark MORE has retaken the gavel as Speaker of the House, and I certainly want the president to see me and my fellow Democrats in the room demonstrating that we in the majority will now serve as that check on this administration," Meeks said in a statement. But a handful of Democrats are still boycotting Tuesday's State of the Union. Here are the other Democrats who won't be attending: Rep. John Lewis John LewisSenate confirms Clarke as first Black woman to lead DOJ civil rights Returning the ghost of Eric Holder to the Justice Department Intercept bureau chief: Manchin-backed bill doesn't address voter suppression MORE (Ga.) Lewis will not attend the speech, his office confirmed to The Hill. He also boycotted Trump's State of the Union last year. Rep. Hank Johnson Henry (Hank) C. JohnsonBottom line Schumer waiting for recommendation on Supreme Court expansion Democrats seek Barrett's recusal from case tied to conservative backers MORE (Ga.) “I have a problem with defiling the Speaker’s chair in the House of Representatives,” Johnson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I don’t want to see it lowered, as is what happens when Donald Trump comes to our floor and starts talking about groups of people, particularly Latinos, and disparaging them as a people.” “I’d rather be somewhere else,” Johnson added. Rep. Steve Cohen Stephen (Steve) Ira CohenViola Fletcher, oldest living survivor of Tulsa Race Massacre, testifies in Congress 'seeking justice' Lobbying world Buttigieg charms Washington with his accessibility MORE (Tenn.) "I will not attend the State of the Union once again this year. I’ll come to the House Chamber for the State of the Union the next time I can hear from a president who will tell the truth about the State of the Union," Cohen said in a statement to The Hill. Cohen previously introduced articles of impeachment against Trump in late 2017. But has not reintroduced them yet in the new Congress, citing a desire to wait for the conclusion of the investigation into Russian election interference led by special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerSenate Democrats urge Garland not to fight court order to release Trump obstruction memo Why a special counsel is guaranteed if Biden chooses Yates, Cuomo or Jones as AG Barr taps attorney investigating Russia probe origins as special counsel MORE. Cohen also skipped Trump's State of the Union last year. Rep. Earl Blumenauer Earl BlumenauerRivers, hydropower and climate resilience Overnight Defense: Austin, Bidens thank National Guard as Capitol mission ends | CBO estimates nuclear arsenal to cost 4B over 10 years | Senate Armed Services chairman backs change in prosecuting military sexual assault CBO: US nuclear arsenal to cost 4B over 10 years MORE (Ore.) ADVERTISEMENT "The thought of spending Tuesday night in the House Chamber listening to the reckless, self-centered man who occupies the White House holds no interest for me. Just like in past years, I plan to skip a speech that will be filled with lies, deception and divisiveness," Blumenauer said in a statement. Blumenauer invited the executive director of the World Central Kitchen, Nate Mook, to attend as his guest even though he won't be there. World Central Kitchen, founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, has recently provided meals to hurricane victims and federal workers furloughed during the recent partial government shutdown. Rep. Frederica Wilson Frederica Patricia WilsonBiden offers traditional address in eerie setting Congressional Black Caucus members post selfie celebrating first WH visit in four years Rep. Frederica Wilson shares her famous hat collection with Netflix MORE (Fla.) Wilson will be watching the address with a group of her constituents, her office told The Hill. Wilson did not attend last year's address either. Cady Stanton, Quincey Wilson and Darcy Palder contributed.<doc-sep>NEW A vastly improved search engine helps you find the latest on companies, business leaders, and news more easily.<doc-sep>
The number of House Democrats announcing their plans to skip President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE's State of the Union address grew to four on Monday. Rep. Earl Blumenauer Earl BlumenauerRivers, hydropower and climate resilience Overnight Defense: Austin, Bidens thank National Guard as Capitol mission ends | CBO estimates nuclear arsenal to cost 4B over 10 years | Senate Armed Services chairman backs change in prosecuting military sexual assault CBO: US nuclear arsenal to cost 4B over 10 years MORE (D-Ore.), who didn't attend Trump's address to Congress last year, said he won't be going on Tuesday night either. ADVERTISEMENT "The thought of spending Tuesday night in the House Chamber listening to the reckless, self-centered man who occupies the White House holds no interest for me. Just like in past years, I plan to skip a speech that will be filled with lies, deception and divisiveness," Blumenauer said in a statement. Blumenauer invited the executive director of the World Central Kitchen, Nate Mook, to attend as his guest even though he won't be there. World Central Kitchen, founded by celebrity chef Jose Andres, has recently provided meals to hurricane victims and federal workers furloughed during the recent partial government shutdown. "The amount of damage, division and confusion Trump has inflicted on the American people over the last six weeks has been a blemish on the new Congress and I refuse to be witness to his continued antics," Blumenauer said. Rep. Steve Cohen Stephen (Steve) Ira CohenViola Fletcher, oldest living survivor of Tulsa Race Massacre, testifies in Congress 'seeking justice' Lobbying world Buttigieg charms Washington with his accessibility MORE (D-Tenn.), who has previously called for President Trump's impeachment, also says he will again boycott the State of the Union address this year. “I will not attend the State of the Union once again this year. I’ll come to the House Chamber for the State of the Union the next time I can hear from a president who will tell the truth about the State of the Union," Cohen said in a statement to The Hill. Georgia Democratic Reps. John Lewis John LewisSenate confirms Clarke as first Black woman to lead DOJ civil rights Returning the ghost of Eric Holder to the Justice Department Intercept bureau chief: Manchin-backed bill doesn't address voter suppression MORE and Hank Johnson Henry (Hank) C. JohnsonBottom line Schumer waiting for recommendation on Supreme Court expansion Democrats seek Barrett's recusal from case tied to conservative backers MORE also said last week that they will not attend. “I have a problem with defiling the speaker’s chair in the House of Representatives,” Johnson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I don’t want to see it lowered, as is what happens when Donald Trump comes to our floor and starts talking about groups of people, particularly Latinos, and disparaging them as a people.” “I’d rather be somewhere else,” Johnson added. Fourteen House Democrats boycotted Trump's State of the Union last year. Lewis, a civil rights icon, Blumenauer and Cohen were among the lawmakers who opted against going to the speech in 2018. Updated at 1:53 p.m.