By Trendsetter Tribune 
WASHINGTON — A dramatic disruption occurred on the National Mall on Tuesday night, February 24, 2026, when a supporter of President Trump rushed the stage during the “People’s State of the Union,” a counter-event held by dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotting the official address. The incident took place just as Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) began his remarks, highlighting the intense partisan friction surrounding the historic 108-minute State of the Union speech.
The unidentified man, wearing a signature red hat, managed to bypass a perimeter barricade and reached the podium before being intercepted by security and event organizers.
The Confrontation on the Mall
As Senator Murphy was introducing his guest—an Afghan refugee advocate—the supporter ran onto the platform shouting, “Go Trump, go Trump!” and “Lies! All lies!” toward the Democratic crowd.
- Murphy’s Reaction: The Senator remained notably calm during the breach. As security led the man away, Murphy leaned into the microphone and simply said, “Thanks, man,” before continuing his speech about the “crisis of the union.”
- The Crowd Response: The audience of several hundred protesters responded with heavy booing and chants of “Abolish ICE” and “Release the files” (referring to the Epstein investigation).
- Joy Reid Intervenes: Independent journalist Joy Reid, who was co-hosting the event, addressed the interruption moments later. “Attention all MAGA trolls: your [expletive] is not welcome here,” she told the crowd. “We are here to hear the truth from impacted people, not from you.”
The “People’s State of the Union” Boycott
The rally was organized by groups like MoveOn and MeidasTouch as an alternative for the roughly 30 to 35 Democratic lawmakers who refused to attend the President’s address in the House chamber.
| Key Attendees | Stated Reason for Boycott |
| Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) | Called the President a “Pinocchio” and refused to “normalize fascism.” |
| Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) | Argued the President’s campaign promises have “all been broken.” |
| Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) | Protesting “lawless” immigration enforcement and cuts to social programs. |
| Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) | Opted for a total boycott with no counterprogramming appearance. |
A Night of Dueling Protests
The Mall incident was not the only point of friction on a night that saw Washington D.C. split into two distinct political realities.
- “Silent Defiance” in the Chamber: Many Democrats who did attend, such as Senator Richard Blumenthal, chose to remain seated and silent throughout the record-long 108-minute speech.
- “State of the Swamp”: A second, smaller counter-event was held at the National Press Club, headlined by actor Robert De Niro, who told attendees the country was “imploding” under the current administration.
- The Al Green Escort: Inside the House chamber, the evening began with Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) being escorted out by the Sergeant at Arms for the second year in a row after displaying a sign targeting the President’s recent social media posts.
“These are not normal times, and Democrats have to stop behaving normally. Showing up for this speech puts a veneer of legitimacy on corruption.” — Senator Chris Murphy, Feb 24, 2026