Democrats Plan Boycott of Trump's State of the Union, Opting for Rival Rally

A growing number of Democratic lawmakers are planning to boycott President Trump's State of the Union address next week, skipping the event entirely rather than demonstrating inside the chamber as they did last year.

The lawmakers say they'll attend a rally on the National Mall called "The People's State of the Union" instead. The event will feature leaders and people affected by Republican policies, including federal workers who lost their jobs in recent layoffs.

Trump's address to a joint session of Congress is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24. The boycott marks a shift in strategy from last year, when Democrats attended but staged protests during the speech.