Why These Politicians Refuse to Attend Trump’s Inauguration
Not everyone in Washington is rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20. In fact, several congressmen and congresswomen are outright refusing to attend the event citing Trump's divisive rhetoric, Russian interference in the election, and Trump's criticism of civil rights hero John Lewis as reasons to skip, The Washington Post reports. While appearing on Meet the Press, Lewis said, “I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president.” He added, “I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.” Not surprisingly, Trump took to Twitter to fire back at Lewis. He recommended that Lewis “spend more time fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart.” He then accused Lewis of being “all talk, talk, talk – no action or results.”
Upon witnessing Trump’s attack via social media, Democrats came out to vocalize their unwavering support for Lewis. Here are the lawmakers who refuse to attend Trump's inauguration and why their RSVP reads no.
1/44Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer
"I will forgo the inauguration, spending the day instead in my district talking with Oregonians to hear their priorities, try to answer their questions, and prepare for the coming assault on the values and programs we hold dear. It is hard to think of a better use of my time on January 20th."
2/44New York Rep. Yvette Clark
"I will NOT attend the inauguration of @realDonaldTrump. When you insult @repjohnlewis, you insult America."
3/44Missouri Rep. Lacy Clay
He will be "back home in St. Louis speaking to school kids,” his spokesman said.
4/44New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat
"President-elect Donald Trump is trying to take us back! And the people Trump is appointing– Steve Bannon, Jeff Sessions – are trying to take us back! That’s why I am not attending the presidential inauguration. Donald Trump and the hate-filled rhetoric that plagued his election simply will continue in his administration."
5/44Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez
"We all heard the tape when Donald Trump was bragging – bragging! – about grabbing women by their private parts without their consent," he said. "It is something I can never un-hear."
6/44New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler
"He was legally elected, but the Russian weighing-in on the election, the Russian attempt to hack the election and, frankly, the FBI’s weighing-in on the election, I think, makes his election illegitimate, puts an asterisk next to his name."
7/44Washington Rep. Adam Smith
“As the House of Representatives is not in session the week of Inauguration, Congressman Smith will spend the District Work Period at home in Washington state meeting with his constituents,” said his spokeswoman.
8/44California Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
“I thought long and hard about attending the Inauguration because I value our democracy and respect the office of the presidency, regardless of party. However, the disparaging remarks the President-elect has made about many groups, including women, Mexicans, and Muslims, are deeply contrary to my values. As a result, I will not be attending the Inauguration.”
9/44California Rep. Karen Bass
"After receiving an overwhelming response on the Twitter poll, I've decided not to attend the inauguration of President-elect Trump."
10/44Georgia Rep. John Lewis
"I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton."
11/44Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader
"He’s the president of the United States now, so I’ll do my best to work with him when I think he’s doing the right thing for the country. But he hasn’t proved himself to me at all yet, so I respectfully decline to freeze my ass out there in the cold for this particular ceremony.”
12/44Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth
"After a great deal of thought, I’ve decided not to attend the inauguration – partially out of deference to my friend John Lewis, who was attacked in a historically inaccurate and insulting way, but more importantly, because I thought about the fact that leading up to the election and up until this weekend, Donald Trump has consistently behaved in a way that has helped destroy a lot of the dignity of the presidency," Yarmuth said in the interview. "He’s embarrassed the office."
13/44Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
“President-elect Trump’s actions go beyond any kind of reasonable debate – they threaten the constitutional values our country is based on,” Pingree said in the statement. “I won’t dignify or normalize those threats by standing by at his ceremony. Instead, I think I can better serve my district by performing acts of service here in Maine that day.”
14/44New Jersey Rep. Bonnie Coleman
“The constituents of the New Jersey’s Twelfth District is a cross section of the many groups and millions of Americans that this incoming Administration has turned its back on. Our nation is founded on democracy and inclusion that unfortunately our president-elect refuses to represent."
15/44California Rep. Barbara Lee
"Donald Trump has proven that his administration will normalize the most extreme fringes of the Republican Party. On Inauguration Day, I will not be celebrating. I will be organizing and preparing for resistance."
16/44Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark
"I support the peaceful transition of power, but I don’t feel that I need to attend the pageantry associated with and for this president.”
17/44Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge
"As I told @JoyAnnReid, I will not be attending #Inauguration. I will be at home in Cleveland. #IStandWithJohnLewis."
18/44California Rep. Judy Chu
"The personal attacks on John Lewis were just the latest example of behavior unbefitting a president. So after much thought, I, like millions of other Americans, will choose not to attend the inauguration of President Trump. Instead, I will continue to focus on my efforts to ensure a more just and equal country for ourselves and future generations of all Americans - regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, or orientation.”
19/44California Rep. Mark Takano
"All talk, no action. I stand with @repjohnlewis and I will not be attending the inauguration."
20/44Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego
"We must stand against Trump's bigotries- birther conspiracies, attacks on Gold [Star] parents & civil rights heroes. I won't attend inauguration."
21/44California Rep. Ted Lieu
“I can only hope that Trump will govern differently than he has campaigned. For me, the personal decision not to attend Inauguration is quite simple: Do I stand with Donald Trump, or do I stand with John Lewis? I am standing with John Lewis."
22/44New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez
"I will not be attending inauguration of @realDonaldTrump but WILL participate in the @womensmarch on January 21st."
23/44Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio
“I will be in Oregon this week, meeting with my constituents and discussing their priorities for the year. I usually do not attend presidential inauguration ceremonies and as a general rule try to avoid pomp and circumstance events in Washington.”
24/44California Rep. Mark DeSaulnier
"When Trump places his hand on the Bible & takes the Oath of Office, he will in that moment, be in violation of that oath & the Constitution."
25/44Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal
"His disregard for the conflicts of interest he brings into this office, and his refusal to address those conflicts are the break from tradition on which we should focus.”
26/44Maryland Congressman Anthony Brown
"I respect the office of President of the United States, and I can only hope that soon you will earn the respect of all the people whom you have been elected to lead. For now, regrettably, your recent verbal attack on Mr. Lewis disrespected him and his office, showed a disregard for the office you will soon hold and the Constitution you will soon swear to uphold, and demands my absence from your inauguration.”
27/44Pennsylvania Rep. Dwight Evans
"I #StandWithJohnLewis. I will not be attending the inauguration. Russian hacking must be investigated and I do not support the repeal of ACA."
28/44Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison
"I will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate. I won't be attending Donald Trump's inauguration."
29/44Wisconsin Rep. Mark Pocan
"I was planning on attending the Inauguration on Friday out of respect for the office of the President, while still making it home on Saturday to attend the Women's March in Madison. However, after long consideration based on reading the Classified document on Russian hacking and the Trump candidacy on Thursday, the handling of his conflicts of interest, and this weekend's offensive tweets about a national hero Rep. John Lewis, I am no longer attending this event. At minimum, it's time for Donald Trump to start acting like President Trump, not an immature, undignified reality star with questionable friends and a Twitter addiction. I hope for better, but will not hold my breath."
30/44North Carolina Rep. Alma Adams
"I cherish our democracy and have a profound respect for the peaceful transition of power. However, I cannot in good faith and consciousness pretend to celebrate the inauguration of someone who has spoken so horribly about women, minorities and the disabled. Instead, I am staying home to continue working toward our priorities and to meet with constituents, many of who are fearful of what lies ahead."
CQ-Roll Call,Inc.31/44Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva
"My absence is not motivated by disrespect for the office or motivated by disrespect for the government that we have in this great democracy, but as an individual act, yes, of defiance at the disrespect shown to millions and millions of Americans by this incoming administration, and the actions we are taking in this Congress."
32/44California Representative Maxine Waters
"I don't honor him. I don't respect him, and I don't want to be involved with him."
33/44Florida Rep. Darren Soto
"I am deeply disappointed with Trump’s attacks against civil rights hero John Lewis and will not be attending the inauguration as a result."
34/44New York Congressman Jose Serrano
"I will not attend the #inauguration2017 next week- cannot celebrate the inauguration of a man who has no regard for my constituents. #Bronx"
35/44Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro
"Every American should respect the office of the presidency and the fact that Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States. But winning an election does not mean a man can show contempt for millions of Americans and then expect those very people to celebrate him."
36/44Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen
"I sat on the floor of the House of Representatives with John Lewis to protest the inability of the Republican Congress to give us a vote on gun violence. I sat with John Lewis then. And I will stand with John Lewis now. Therefore, I will not be attending the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States of America this week."
37/44Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett
"Respect, like Pennsylvania Avenue, is a two-way street. Instead of uniting the country, his continued unprecedented, unpresidential actions are dividing it. By repeatedly taking the lowest road, he is not showing respect for the highest office. We are in for a long struggle that must strategically utilize every nonviolent opposition tool available."
38/44California Rep. Jared Huffman
): "There is nothing ordinary about this inauguration or the man that will be sworn-in as our next President. I do accept the election results and support the peaceful transfer of power, but it is abundantly clear to me that with Donald Trump as our President, the United States is entering a dark and very dangerous political chapter. I will do everything I can to limit the damage and the duration of this chapter, and I believe we can get through it. But I will not sit passively and politely applaud as it begins."
39/44Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson
"Mr. Trump’s recent insensitive and foolish remarks about civil rights hero John Lewis were far beneath the dignity of the Office of the President."
40/44North Carolina Rep G.K. Butterfield
"Considering Mr. Trump’s brand of division & insult, I believe it would be hurtful to my constituents for me to attend the inauguration. It is my hope that President Trump will transform his behavior and lead our nation in a positive direction for all Americans.”
41/44Virginia Rep. Don Beyer
“His values and his actions are the antitheses of those I hold dear. It would be the height of hypocrisy for me to pretend to be part of this inaugural celebration."
42/44Maryland Representative Jamie Raskin
"Given these dynamics and given that one can never have any confidence in what Trump might say or tweet, I cannot risk my presence at his inauguration being interpreted as any kind of endorsement of the normality of our situation. I will not attend the inauguration. I do not rejoice in this decision or take pride in it, any more than I would rejoice or take pride in going; the inauguration ceremony is just a fact of life now, and we must all deal with it as best we can."
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43/44Pennsylvania Rep. Robert Brady
"I'm not going to go to the Inaugural. I want to support John Lewis, he's a personal friend of mine."
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