**California Lawmakers’ Varied Approaches to President Trump’s State of the Union Address**
As President Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address Tuesday night, California’s members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are showing a wide range of reactions that reflect their diverse politics and constituencies.
**Democratic Boycotts and Strong Criticism**
Leading up to the speech, Senator Adam Schiff voiced severe criticism of President Trump. Describing him as “out-of-control and corrupt,” Schiff accused the president of ignoring urgent issues like climate change to enrich himself and retaliate against political opponents. He specifically condemned Trump for turning the U.S. Department of Justice and the federal government into what he called a “personal fiefdom,” operating beyond the bounds of the law.
In a powerful statement on the Senate floor, Schiff said, “From the birth of our nation, our founders were obsessed with preventing tyranny and the emergence of another king, another despot. They created checks and balances, separation of powers, an independent judiciary. They understood that the greatest threat to liberty wasn’t foreign invasion; it was the concentration of power in the hands of one person or faction.”
He added, “This President has systematically dismantled these safeguards in his second term.”
Schiff is among a group of Democrats boycotting the State of the Union speech. Other California Democrats joining the boycott include Representatives Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles), and Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village).
**Responses and Alternate Addresses**
Senator Alex Padilla, son of immigrants and a vocal critic of recent ICE raids, will deliver the Democratic response in Spanish, which will be broadcast on television and online immediately following Trump’s address.
**California’s Congressional Clout and Historic Moments**
California boasts the largest congressional delegation in the nation, giving its elected officials a significant presence in Washington, D.C. One of the most memorable moments involving a California politician was then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s dramatic ripping of Trump’s 2020 State of the Union speech.
It remains to be seen whether California lawmakers will stage any similarly dramatic gestures this year. However, their choice of guests for the event is drawing attention.
**Notable Guests**
– Although Representative Robert Garcia will not attend the speech, his guest will be Annie Farmer, who was abused at age 16 by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
– Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), who will attend, is bringing Teresa J. Helm, another survivor of Epstein’s abuse.
– Representative Ken Calvert (R-Corona), a Republican attending the speech, is bringing Ben Benoit, longtime friend and Riverside County auditor-controller.
– Nancy Pelosi’s guest is Reverend Devon Jerome Crawford, senior pastor of the historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco.
Other members plan to bring constituents from their districts, and a few have surprise guests that will be revealed during the event.
As the nation watches, California’s diverse delegation offers a window into the wide-ranging political responses to the president’s address.
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2026-02-24/californias-congress-members-plans-for-trumps-state-of-union-address
