Senator Markey Boycotts Trump’s Lie-Filled, Hateful State of the Union

Markey: "This is not a State of the Union address I will legitimize"

Washington (February 24, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) boycotted Donald Trump's State of the Union address and instead spoke at the "People's State of the Union," where he vowed to fight for our future and our democracy. He also read a statement from Gladys Vega, President and CEO of La Colaborativa in Chelsea, Massachusetts, who could not attend as his guest due to the blizzard in Massachusetts. La Colaborativa is the largest Latin-led organization in the Commonwealth. Excerpts from both Senator Markey's and Gladys Vega's statements are below.

Remarks from Senator Markey

"Tonight, I am not in the U.S. Capitol for Donald Trump's State of the Union address. I am here with you at the People's State of the Union, because the State of the Union should be a moment of truth…But under Donald Trump, it has become a Lies-a-palooza.

"We are living in a critical moment, and we must fight back. Trump wants to scare us into submission, but when he rolls back our rights, we roll up our sleeves.

"We must defund and abolish ICE and get ICE out of our cities. We must remove RFK Jr. from any public health position that puts lives at risk. We must say out loud that vaccines work. We must fire Kristi Noem and Kash Patel for their lawlessness and complicity in the crimes we have seen committed right before our very eyes. We must reverse Trump's disastrous tax cuts for the wealthy - and instead invest that in relief for working families. We must save Medicare and Social Security and expand funding for Medicaid. We don't need endless warfare - we need universal health care.

"The real security Americans need is a livable future, affordable housing, free college, Medicare For All, clean air, clean water, clean energy, and a Green New Deal. And we must impeach Donald Trump. We are not going to let him steal this election.

"Enough to corruption. Enough to cruelty. Enough to policies that sacrifice the vulnerable for the powerful. Let us leave here tonight with that same spirit - ready to organize, ready to galvanize, and ready to fight - not just for ourselves, but for the generations that will come after us.

"When we stand together, we win."

Remarks from Gladys Vega, read by Senator Markey

"From fighting for our immigrant community's fundamental rights to championing resources for schools, housing, small businesses, and neighborhoods, for decades, Senator Markey has stood with us as an invaluable ally. Looking ahead, this solidarity is vital in holding the federal administration accountable for the unspeakable harm they've inflicted on our community, economy, and national consciousness.

"In communities like Chelsea, the disappearance of loved ones is occurring every day. Fear paralyzes the daily life of countless residents, including those that protected us during COVID-19 and currently sustain the economy. In our City's downtown, the storefronts are quiet and the sidewalks are desolate, with local businesses grinding to a halt. The Chelsea School District reports a major decline in enrollment and widespread absences, resulting in a budget deficit that will deprive children of education for future generations. Housing and infrastructure projects, a priority of our Commonwealth, are collapsing, furthering unemployment and hardship. The impacts of Trump's illegal, immoral policies are dire.

"The coming year will require a new form of resilience and a new form of deliberate action. We ask that you continue fighting with us and remain grateful to each of you for standing in solidarity with our community."

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