'I Will Not Legitimize It': AOC Announces She Will Not Attend Trump's SOTU

Julio Rosas | February 04, 2020 4:00 PM

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) announced on Twitter she will not be attending President Trump's upcoming State of the Union speech.

Ocasio-Cortez said she reached the decision "after much deliberation." The self-proclaimed Democratic socialist said she did not want to "legitimize" and "normalize Trump’s "lawless conduct [and] subversion of the Constitution."

Ocasio-Cortez will be hosting an Instagram live on her account in the evening to "connect with my constituents and follow up with their questions" about Trump's speech.

This is a deeply personal decision for each member to make, and a choice I did not take lightly.

I will be hopping on Instagram Live later this evening to connect with my constituents and follow up with their questions about #SOTU.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 4, 2020

Other Democratic members of Congress who will not attend the State of the Union include Rep. Maxine Waters (CA), Rep. Steve Cohen (TN), Rep. Al Green (TX), and Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL).

To think that I would attend the #SOTU to hear the message of an IMPEACHED president is a thought that in no way would be consistent w/ my fight and struggle against this dishonorable president. I will certainly NOT be there!
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) February 4, 2020

Inbox: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) announced today that he will not attend the State of the Union address by President Trump on Tuesday night, just as he has refrained from attending prior Trump State of the Union addresses and his inauguration.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 4, 2020

Because of an impeached, reckless, ruthless, lawless, shameless, corrupt, & unapologetically bigoted president - who is still engaging in a coverup, the state of the House, the state of the Senate, and the #StateOfTheUnion are divided.

I will NOT attend #SOTU2020.
— Congressman Al Green (@RepAlGreen) February 4, 2020

Trump, who is scheduled to address the nation at 9 p.m. ET, will be the second president in history to give the annual speech while under impeachment. Former President Bill Clinton was the first.