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On Friday, renowned sports commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized the Democratic members of Congress who intend to boycott President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address. Smith expressed his frustration, labeling their actions as “the kind of stuff that ticks me off.”
During his SiriusXM radio program, Smith elaborated on his viewpoint, saying, “When you approach the American people and encourage them to stand up, take action, and manage their responsibilities, whether it’s dealing with job issues, paying bills, or supporting their families, why shouldn’t the same principles apply to elected officials?”
He questioned, “Why do they get to sidestep those expectations? Why are they allowed to bypass rules, regulations, and the basic need for decorum? This is the kind of behavior that truly irritates me.”
Smith also pointed out that numerous Democrats have announced plans to either avoid attending the address altogether or to walk out midway, effectively choosing to “find something else to do.”
“Why do they get to get away with that?” he continued. “Why do they get to circumvent those rules and regulations? Why do they get to circumvent the need and the insistence of mere decorum? This is the kind of stuff that ticks me off.”
Smith added that many Democrats have said they will either skip the address or suggested they would walk out in the middle of the speech, “essentially finding something else to do.”
“I’m here to tell you that neither is acceptable,” he added. “Neither should be acceptable. At some point in time, ladies and gentlemen, there’s got to be an adult in the room.”
“If you’re going to act as juvenile, as petulant, as petty as you accuse President of the United States to be, how are you ever going to hold a high moral ground at least high enough to judge him accordingly?” the commentator said. “If people on the right can turn and look at you and say, ‘You’re no better, you act no better,’ where’s it going to get you.”
Smith also acknowledged that his remarks on politics often make headlines, fueling speculation that he could run for president in 2028. He dismissed the notion on Friday, saying he has “no desire to be an elected official” and that he’s “not an afficionado on the issues, [I’ve] got a long way to go to learn all the things that go on.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called on Democrats to either attend Trump’s address with “silent defiance” or take part in “different alternate programming that is going to take place in and around the Capitol complex.”
Around 21 Democrats members of Congress plan to skip attending Trump’s address on Tuesday, with 17 planning to take part in the “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall, hosted by liberal group MoveOn Civic Action, progressive media company MeidasTouch and other coalition partners.
Other Democrats are planning to attend a different counter-event dubbed “State of the Swamp” at the National Press Club. Reps. Eric Swalwell (Calif.), Seth Moulton (Mass.), Dan Goldman (N.Y.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.) are set to speak. Rep. Jason Crow (Colo.) will also attend but said he will also go to the State of the Union.
Democratic Reps. Dina Titus (Nev.), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Calif.), Ami Bera (Calif.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) have also said they will boycott the State of the Union.
Others have said they will protest the speech, including bringing constituents “who can speak to how their disastrous policies have made it harder for him and his family to make ends meet as they face an active health care crisis,” a spokesperson for Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-Va.) previously told The Hill.
Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), who is attending Trump’s address, said that boycotting the speech was fine but asked Democrats in attendance to “do it with dignity because, you know, really need to respect the office.”
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) will deliver the Democratic response to the president’s speech.