Hill Dems brace for Trump’s big speech
Plus: Inside the Democrats’ preemptive messaging blitz and the VIPs members brought as guests.
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Hill Dems brace for Trump’s big speech
Hill Democrats will enter Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress tonight with little to no optimism that the president will attempt to unify the nation or propose bipartisan solutions to the nation’s challenges, according to interviews with more than a dozen members.
Allow me to explain: Democrats expect little to cheer as Trump returns to the Capitol for the first time in five years to lay out his agenda—one likely to rally his MAGA base, not bring the rest of the country together.
What they’re saying:
“He needs to cut out all of the attacks and really just show some focus in terms of what people are really worried about, which is lowering costs, which he has not done enough of so far,” Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) told me.
Rep. Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of Congress, says he expects the president to traffic in lies and insults during the speech.
“People want to tackle the high prices of groceries, real issues, but I don’t think he’s going to talk about it for a second.”
Angie Craig, the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, told me even her constituents who voted for Trump in her purple district want the president to prioritize what the American people elected him to do.
“I am the kind of member who will seek to find policies that I agree with,” the Minnesota congresswoman added. “But boy, when they implement policies that are going to hurt my constituents, I’m going to fight like hell—and we need the American people to do the same.”
In the know: In the first six weeks of Trump’s second term, he’s implemented significant policy changes.
The president has empowered Elon Musk to oversee substantial federal workforce reductions, which have resulted in the layoff of over 100,000 federal employees and billions in foreign aid cuts.
Trump also initiated a mass deportation operation, the foundation of his strict anti-immigration agenda.
Additionally, he paused military support for Ukraine and is pursuing a peace deal that American critics and European allies view as favorable to Russia.
Given this backdrop, President Trump’s address is anticipated to outline his administration’s accomplishments and future priorities, including extending his 2017 tax cuts, increasing border security, and addressing international conflicts.
While similar in format to a State of the Union, the address is not officially designated as such because it’s Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress after taking office. A new president's first official State of the Union typically happens in their second year, when they’ve been in office long enough to provide a full report on the nation’s status.
Read all about it: “Will Trump talk about this real crisis affecting millions during his big speech?”
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Dems’ preemptive messaging blitz
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) tried to take a page out of Trump’s media playbook with a strategy designed to “flood the zone” with events ahead of tonight’s speech.
Allow me to explain: Jeffries announced on Monday that his office and the House Democrats’ messaging arm arranged for multiple engagement opportunities with legacy press and new media outlets, platforms and social media influencers.
The programming acknowledged that while Democrats lack legislative and executive power, they can draw a contrast between the economic promises Trump and Republicans made on the campaign trail and how they have failed to deliver more than a month into GOP unified control of government.
What they’re saying: “It’s important that every single member of the Democratic Caucus participate in the day-long engagement, both before and after the President’s speech, so that we can flood the zone with our values, ideas and policies that are focused on making life better for everyday Americans,” Jeffries said in a letter to his members.
In the know: Several Democratic member organizations also held events to frame Trump’s speech.
The Congressional Black Caucus held a Q&A with members and Black reporters.
The chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and New Democrat Coalition joined House Democratic Caucus leadership at their weekly press conference to demonstrate solidarity against Republican proposals to defund social safety net and earned benefit programs.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus called out President Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans for putting billionaires over women and families every single day.
Several DWC members wore pink as a symbol of protest and power and to show that they’re pissed off.
“We’re protesting Trump’s policies, which are devastating to women: We can’t afford groceries, he’s stealing our health care, and he’s threatening our safety and security,” a DWC spokesperson told me this morning. “Trump and Republicans are betraying women and families to give tax cuts to billionaires.”
Across the Capitol, Senate Democrats held their own pre-speech programming.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) held an event to highlight the toll the proposed cuts to essential programs, federal workforce reduction and tax breaks for billionaires have had on constituents.
Schumer and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) led another event with speakers from a dozen states who have been impacted by Trump administration policies, including veterans laid off by the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, farmers, and cancer researchers.
Following the address, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) will deliver the official Democratic response.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) will offer the Spanish language response.
Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-Calif.) will deliver a response on behalf of the progressive Working Families Party,
How we got here: Since Inauguration Day, national Democrats have struggled to craft a message that energizes their base while effectively countering the sweeping changes in Trump’s second term. Their responses to major policy shifts—like mass deportations, federal workforce cuts, and the Ukraine situation—have often felt reactive, lacking a clear forward-looking vision.
Internal party divisions have further complicated the situation. Progressives push for bold confrontational tactics, while moderates aim to appeal to swing voters, leading to an unclear, fractured strategy.
Meanwhile, Trump has dominated the political narrative, leaving Democrats scrambling to define a cohesive alternative agenda. As inflation remains a top concern and Republicans gain traction with messaging on immigration and the economy, Democrats are under increasing pressure to present not just opposition, but a compelling vision for the future.
Not so fast: In recent weeks, House Democrats have felt they have found their footing, especially in response to the GOP’s budget proposal, which includes an $880 billion cut to Medicaid to fund an extension of Trump’s tax cuts.
Jeffries emphasized the dire consequences of this plan, calling it a “matter of life and death” for millions of Americans reliant on these programs.
Democrats have also seized on controversial comments made by Elon Musk, who disparaged Social Security, calling it a “Ponzi scheme.”
In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted the stark reality for seniors dependent on Social Security for basic needs, framing this as a direct attack on middle-class Americans.
What’s next:
House Democrats will hold another event on the East Front Capitol Steps tomorrow morning. It will feature constituents who will discuss how Trump’s policies are impacting their daily lives.
The Congressional Progressive Caucus will lead a joint address response, offering an alternative vision for the country.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus will host a press conference with members and special guests to highlight the critical issues facing immigrant communities under Trump’s policies.
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The message behind Dems’ guest picks
Jeffries and Schumer encouraged their members to bring guests to the speech to humanize the impact of President Trump’s domestic and foreign policies.
Allow me to explain: For the State of the Union and joint addresses to Congress, members of Congress are typically allowed to invite a limited number of guests.
The number of guests varies by seniority and position, but most members typically can invite one or two guests. For senior leadership positions, such as House and Senate leaders, the number can be higher.
Members often invite constituents, family members, or individuals who are relevant to the issues they care about or who have had a significant impact on their district or state.
High-profile or symbolic guests may also be invited to make a statement about a particular issue or to spotlight a key constituency.
Who’s bringing who:
Schumer invited New Yorkers whose lives and jobs have been impacted by Trump’s agenda and the parents of two Israeli hostages murdered by Hamas.
Jeffries invited a constituent with two adult daughters who are disabled and on Medicaid, a colon cancer survivor and constituent who received a colonoscopy through Medicaid that detected her cancer early enough to be treated, and a Ukrainian refugee who works in his district. He also invited families who were impacted by the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) invited the executive director of the Illinois Head Start Association.
Delaware’s congressional delegation—Sen. Chris Coons, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Rep. Sarah McBride—invited a former USDA worker, a former worker at the Office of Early Childhood Development and the president of the Delaware State AFL-CIO.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) invited an Army veteran and former combat surgeon who volunteered to provide humanitarian care in Gaza.
Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) invited a survivor of the recent wildfires and lifelong educator.
Rep. Frost invited a former labor organizer and Haitian Temporary Protected Status holder.
In the know: Some Democrats said they wouldn’t have attended the speech—but showed up so their guests could.
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