Two leading Democratic mayors are joining forces to deliver rebuttals to President Donald Trump’s annual State of the Union address to Congress next week.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will be keynote speakers at the “State of the Swamp” rebuttal next Tuesday at Washington, D.C.’s National Press Club. The event is a boycott of Trump’s speech, and is organized by the anti-Trump club, Defiance.org.
The mayors have gained attention in recent months for challenging the president’s immigration enforcement efforts and decision to send troops into their cities as part of a crackdown on crime. Frey has attracted particular notice due to two deadly ICE-related shootings that occurred in his city last month. Afterward, the Trump administration drew down federal personnel in the area.
The two men “have become the face of the resistance to the lawless actions of the Trump administration,” a press release advertising the Feb. 24 event reads. Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jason Crow (D-WI), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), and former Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) are among the lawmakers also delivering remarks at the event, which will additionally feature Robert De Niro.
Johnson said he would “not allow the threats posed by this administration to stand in the way of work building truly safe and affordable cities.” Frey made a call for “moral clarity,” stating that both Democrats and Republicans “must be willing to speak up when our fundamental values are tested.”
Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) is delivering the Democratic Party’s formal response to Trump’s high-profile speech.
“She stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump, who will lie, deflect, and blame everyone but himself for his failed presidency on Tuesday evening,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said.
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Frey and Johnson’s remarks to Democrats boycotting Trump’s speech to Congress will be hosted by Defiance.org, a liberal, anti-corporate group committed to opposing Trump on ICE and other matters, as well as opposing major “monopolistic” businesses such as Amazon.
Among its initiatives is a national campaign to “ensure U.S. troops have the legal support to respond to ‘manifestly illegal orders,’” and ICE whistle distribution to “expose unlawful” activity.