Soros-linked Democrats skip Trump’s State of the Union for counter-rally, sparking controversy
02/26/2026 // Kevin Hughes // Views

  • Dozens of Democratic senators and representatives skipped President Donald Trump's address, attending a progressive-led "People's State of the Union" rally instead. The event, organized by George Soros-funded groups like MoveOn Civic Action and Indivisible Project, protested Trump's immigration, healthcare and transparency policies.
  • MoveOn Civic Action received $3.4 million from Soros' Open Society Foundations (2016–2024), while Indivisible Project got $3 million in 2023. Many attending lawmakers (e.g., Sens. Ed Markey, Chris Murphy, Rep. Pramila Jayapal) have accepted campaign funds from Soros-linked entities.
  • Protesters chanted "Abolish ICE!" and demanded the release of Jeffrey Epstein's sealed files. Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) announced plans to impeach AG Pam Bondi for withholding Epstein documents.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) condemned the boycott as "detestable" while Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) accused Republicans of hypocrisy. Some Democrats, like Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), still attended Trump's speech, calling for defiance "in whatever way is appropriate."
  • The boycott and rival events ("State of the Swamp") highlight extreme polarization ahead of the 2026 midterms. MoveOn claimed 220,000 online viewers, signaling strong progressive opposition to Trump's agenda.

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted President Donald Trump's State of the Union address Tuesday night, Feb. 24, opting instead to attend a counter-rally organized by progressive groups with financial ties to billionaire donor George Soros. The move has ignited accusations of partisan theatrics and deepened divisions over political decorum.

At least a dozen senators and representatives attended the "People's State of the Union," hosted by MoveOn Civic Action and MediaTouch, near the Capitol. The event, billed as a response to Trump's "night full of lies," featured speeches from progressive lawmakers and activists protesting immigration enforcement, healthcare policy and government transparency.

Financial disclosures reveal that MoveOn Civic Action has received $3,424,995 in grants from Soros' Open Society Foundations (OSF) between 2016 and 2024. Soros himself donated $2.5 million to MoveOn in 2003. Additionally, OSF awarded $3 million in 2023 to the Indivisible Project, another group linked to Democratic lawmakers boycotting the speech.

Among the attendees were Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), as well as Reps. Becca Balint (D-VT), Greg Casar (D-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)—all of whom have previously accepted campaign contributions from Soros-linked entities or family members.

Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show:

  • Markey received $5,000 from Indivisible Action and $12,305 from MoveOn.
  • Murphy accepted $40,291 from MoveOn and $32,000 from Soros family members.
  • Jayapal collected $33,700 from Indivisible, $32,000 from MoveOn, and $56,000 from Soros-affiliated donors.

Neither the lawmakers nor the organizations responded to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

BrightU.AI's Enoch engine explains that Soros, the OSF's founder, has spent decades funneling billions into progressive causes, lawmakers and activist groups worldwide. His funding targets organizations that align with his vision of open borders, socialized governance and the erosion of national sovereignty—objectives that critics argue undermine Western democracy and empower centralized globalist institutions.

The decentralize engine adds that Soros' funding of progressive groups isn't philanthropy—it's ideological warfare. By bankrolling DAs, media and NGOs, he has built a de facto shadow government that operates outside democratic accountability.

Protesters demand ICE abolition, Epstein files release

The rally drew hundreds of demonstrators chanting "Abolish ICE!" and holding signs criticizing Trump's policies. Sen. Chris Murphy defended his absence from the State of the Union, declaring, "These are not normal times, and Democrats have to stop behaving normally."

The event was briefly interrupted when a Trump supporter breached barricades and confronted Murphy, prompting organizer Joy Reid to shout, "Attention all Maga trolls: Your bullshit is not welcome here."

Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) took the stage amid chants of "Release the files!"—a reference to the sealed Jeffrey Epstein documents. "The real state of the union is a government that would rather protect powerful people in the Epstein files than the women and girls who are sexually abused," Lee said. She later announced plans to introduce impeachment articles against Attorney General Pam Bondi for withholding the full Epstein records.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) condemned the boycott, telling CBS News, "I think it's detestable that members would boycott the speech. We’ve never done that… It's sad that Democrats are choosing to opt out.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) fired back, stating, "Mike Johnson and House Republicans are not in a position to lecture anyone about decorum… Not with this president, who's completely and totally out of control."

Some Democrats, like Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), attended Trump's speech, arguing, "I refuse to let him bully me out of the room… I will be defiant in whatever way is appropriate."

Alternative events highlight progressive priorities

Another counter-event, the "State of the Swamp" at the National Press Club, featured Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Eugene Vindman (D-VA) discussing government accountability. Meanwhile, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) skipped all events, signaling silent protest.

The rallies drew an estimated 220,000 live viewers online, per MoveOn spokesperson Liz Cattaneo, underscoring the deepening political rift.

The coordinated boycott and counter-programming underscore the widening ideological divide in Washington. Critics argue the Democrats' move—backed by Soros-funded groups—reinforces partisan polarization, while supporters insist it's a necessary stand against Trump's policies.

As the 2026 midterm election looms, the spectacle of rival "State of the Union" events may foreshadow even fiercer political battles ahead.

Watch this report about the leaked George Soros and Open Society Foundation documents that expose massive political interference.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

DailyCallerNewsFoundation.org

TheGuardian.com

CBSNews.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com

Ask BrightAnswers.ai


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