Rep. Katherine Clark, the House Minority Whip, is not attending the State of the Union address – joining a group of Democrats in boycotting the president’s address.

“What we have seen from this president is a series of lies, of disrespect for the American people. He campaigned that he would lower costs on day one, he would keep people safe and secure, and he has done just the opposite,” Clark told ABC News.

Clark said she would spend Tuesday evening talking with constituents while Trump is “spewing his misinformation.”

“While he is spewing his misinformation tonight,

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer griped about the planned length of Trump’s State of the Union address this evening after the president said it will be “long.”

“Donald Trump said he is going to talk for a very long time tonight,” the New York Democrat wrote on X. “God help us.”

“Not sure what he thinks there is to celebrate, because America is a mess thanks to him,” Schumer added.

After being presented with an Olympic gold medal, President Donald Trump joked that he was “not giving it back.”

On Tuesday afternoon, the Republican president hosted members of the U.S. men’s hockey team at the White House after their historic gold-winning game at the Winter Olympics in Italy over the weekend.

Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming said she invited Troy Lake, a man who served federal prison time for violating the Clean Air Act, as her guest to the State of the Union.

Lake pleaded guilty to violating the federal law, regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, in June 2024 for instructing his employees to disable monitoring systems that ensure heavy-duty commercial trucks are complying with emission requirements under the act.

Lake served approximately seven months in prison before being pardoned by Trump in November 2025.

“Troy is a hardworking American who was unfairly targeted by the Biden Justice Department. President Trump made the right call in pardoning him, and we look forward to attending tonight’s address,” Lummis wrote on X.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger is delivering the Democrats’ affordability-focused rebuttal to Trump’s State of the Union address.

Spanberger, who became the first woman elected governor of Virginia in November, is expected to focus on affordability, domestic instability and how “ordinary citizens” are pushing back on the administration, according to a preview of her speech seen by the New York Times.

“Virginians and Americans across the country are contending with rising costs, chaos in their communities, and a real fear of what each day might bring,” Spanberger said in a statement.

“I look forward to laying out what these Americans expect and deserve — leaders who are working hard to deliver for them.”

Ahead of the State of the Union address, the Lincoln Project, a political action committee opposed to Trump, aired a video mocking the president for losing his tariffs case at the Supreme Court.

The video is a compilation of clips from Trump’s press conference Friday in which he lashed out at justices for ruling against him and declared the final opinion wrong.

“Donald, you must feel so dumb,” a voiceover says. “Even dumber than usual.”

There’s a better-than-not chance that President Donald Trump will mention aliens, AI and hockey during his State of the Union address this evening, according to Kalshi, a popular prediction market.

Team USA men’s hockey player Matthew Tkachuk offered Trump his gold medal during an Oval Office visit ahead of the president’s State of the Union address.

”I’m not giving it back,” Trump joked. “Hey that’s cool. I’d never thought I’d have this on.”

Top Democratic and Republican members of Congress have left a briefing at the White House with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, hours before Trump’s State of the Union.

The Iran-focused talks appeared to have rattled Senate Minority Leader Chuch Schumer.

“Look. This is serious, and the administration has to make its case to the American people,” he told reporters before walking away without providing other details about the meeting.

Five members of the men’s hockey team did not attend the White House event and won’t be watching the State of the Union in person.

Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets was practicing with his team Tuesday before a Wednesday game, he told reporters.

Goalie Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars is due to be with his team and is scheduled to practice Wednesday.

Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche returned home to spend time with his family, according to the Denver Post.

Jake Guentzel of the Tampa Bay Lightning has also returned to Tampa, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Jackson LaCombe of the Anaheim Ducks was traveling back to southern California, according to the Sporting Tribune.

The White House has already cut together a video of the team’s appearance.