Donald TrumpThe Memo: GOP pushes Trump to curb Mueller attacks At center of Qatar crisis, a billion ransom Chaffetz: Threats against lawmakers should be taken seriously MORE take the oath of office next week.Adams said in a statement that she has deep respect for the peaceful transition of power, but that she will stay home and meet with constituents during the inauguration.
“In November, the President-elect promised to bridge the divide to help us find common ground. Unfortunately, that promise has not been honored. Instead, President-elect Trump has validated our fears with his cabinet picks, tweets and attacks.”
Rep. Karen Bass
Karen BassEthiopia at tipping point as Congress mulls human rights bill Technology's role in human trafficking cannot be ignored Dem rips Trump's claim of historically unfair treatment MORE (Calif.)
Bass made her decision after conducting a Twitter poll on whether or not she should attend the inauguration.
Rep. Don Beyer (Va.)
Beyer announced on Facebook that he will skip the inauguration.
“Yes, I treasure the peaceful transition of power. Yes, I will respect the constitutional prerogatives of the presidency. But I will not be part of normalizing or legitimizing a man whose election may well have depended on the malicious foreign interference of Russia’s leaders,” he continued.
“His values and his actions are the antitheses of those I hold dear. It would be the height of hypocrisy for me to pretend to be part of his inaugural celebration.”
Earl BlumenauerOvernight Energy: Zinke, Perry take heat over Trump budget House passes nuclear energy tax bill Overnight Finance: Ryan wants tax reform to be permanent | White House expects tax bill ready by September | Defense spending battle delays budget MORE (Ore.)Rep. Brendan Boyle (Pa.)
“The election of Donald Trump presents a challenge to my long held view of presidential inaugurations. As much as I cherish this day, can I in good conscience celebrate that which I believe is a grave mistake? Can I sit by mere yards away and applaud the desecration of the most important office in the history of the world?” Boyle said in a statement, according to CBS Philadelphia.
“After wrestling with this question for the last two months, I have concluded I cannot participate in this Inaugural celebration. I accept the decision of the people. I respect it. But I will not celebrate it.”
Rep. Robert Brady (Pa.)
'I'm not going to go to the Inaugural. I want to support John Lewis, he's a personal friend of mine," Brady said Monday, according to ABC 6 Philadelphia.
Rep. Anthony Brown (Md.)
"I respect the office of President of the United States, and I can only hope that soon you will earn the respect of all the people whom you have been elected to lead. For now, regrettably, your recent verbal attack on Mr. Lewis disrespected him and his office, showed a disregard for the office you will soon hold and the Constitution you will soon swear to uphold, and demands my absence from your inauguration," Brown wrote on Facebook.
Rep. G.K. Butterfield
G.K. ButterfieldVoting advocates notch win at Supreme Court Supreme Court strikes down NC districts as illegally based on race Dems once critical of Comey line up to denounce his firing MORE (NC)
Butterfield, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, wrote in a series of tweets that he would not attend the inauguration.
“Considering Mr. Trump’s brand of division & insult, I believe it would be hurtful to my constituents for me to attend the inauguration. It is my hope that President Trump will transform his behavior and lead our nation in a positive direction for all Americans.”
Rep. Joaquin Castro (Texas)
Castro said he won't attend the ceremony, but will be in Washington to meet with constituents who’ve traveled for the inauguration.
“Every American should respect the office of the presidency and the fact that Donald Trump will be the 45th President of the United States. But winning an election does not mean a man can show contempt for millions of Americans and then expect those very people to celebrate him," Castro said in a statement on Tuesday.
Rep. Michael Capuano (Mass.)
“While I have great respect for the Office of the President and I accept the results of the election, I will not attend the Inaugural,” he tweeted.
Instead he will hold an open house to hear from constituents who have contacted his office “to raise concerns about the future of our great country.”
Rep. Tony Cardenas (Calif.)
"This week I've been thinking a lot about what my parents, family, and constituents would say about the situation I'm facing. After serious consideration, I have decided that I will not stand with Donald Trump during his ceremonial inauguration," Cardenas said in a statement on Tuesday.
He plans on attending the Women's March on Washington on Saturday with his wife and daughter.
"I sat on the floor of the House of Representatives with John Lewis to protest the inability of the Republican Congress to give us a vote on gun violence. I sat with John Lewis then. And I will stand with John Lewis now. Therefore, I will not be attending the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States of America this week," Cohen said, according to WKRN News 2 in Nashville.
Rep. Lloyd Dogett (Texas)
Doggett announces on Twitter that he'll skip inauguration because Trump is dividing the country.
Rep. Mike Doyle (Pa.)
“I’m going to #StandWithJohnLewis. I won’t attend the Inauguration on Friday,” he tweeted.
Rep. Keith Ellison (Minn.)
"I will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate. I won't be attending Donald Trump's inauguration," he tweeted Monday afternoon.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.)
Invoking Martin Luther King Jr. Day, he wrote in a Facebook message that “it is up to us to preserve [Dr. King’s] legacy and the legacy of President Barack Obama
Barack ObamaRahm Emanuel: Trump changed GOP base Trump: Hillary Clinton colluded with Democrats to defeat Bernie Sanders Trump breaks with tradition, forgoes Ramadan dinner MORE to ensure that we do not go back in time!
President-elect Donald Trump is trying to take us back! And the people Trump is appointing– Steve Bannon, Jeff Sessions
Jeff SessionsJustice Department developing strategies to shut down ‘sanctuary cities’: report Sally Yates slams Sessions on criminal justice reform Preet Bharara emailed DOJ about phone call from Trump: report MORE – are trying to take us back!
That’s why I am not attending the presidential inauguration. Donald Trump and the hate-filled rhetoric that plagued his election simply will continue in his administration.
THIS is not Dr. King’s Dream!”
"I #StandWithJohnLewis. I will not be attending the inauguration. Russian hacking must be investigated and I do not support the repeal of ACA," Evans tweeted Monday.
Marcia FudgeDems announce 'unity commission' members If Democrats want to take back the White House start now A guide to the committees: House MORE (Ohio)“I will not be attending #Inauguration. I will be at home in Cleveland. #IStandWithJohnLewis,” she tweeted.
Al GreenCongressional Black Caucus calls on Trump administration to invest in prosecuting hate crimes Scalise ally, a Dem, leads fight to boost lawmaker security Dem leaders: Cool it on impeachment MORE (Texas)“I will not attend the inauguration because conscience says it is the right thing to do,” he said in a statement.
“Said last wk that I wasn't attending inauguration.Will be hosting #immigration roundtable in-district, then marching in #WomensMarch on 21st,” she tweeted.
Rep. Barbara Lee (Calif.)
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.)
“I acknowledge the fact that he is the incoming president, but I’m not in the mood to celebrate that fact,” Lofgren told the Los Angeles Times.
Rep. Donald McEachin (Va.)
"I'm not sure what there is to celebrate," McEachin said in a statement. "I have a train ticket, but unfortunately, it has come to this."
Instead, McEachin's train ticket will go unused as he spends Friday at an event with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and the National Park Service to announce a grant to a historic black church in his district.
Rep. Grace Meng (N.Y.)
Meng said in a statement that Trump "must get the message that his antagonistic and divisive comments are unacceptable."
"We cannot tolerate attacks on women, minorities or a civil rights icon," she added.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (N.Y.)
Nadler told CNN that he cannot go "because of the president-elect’s inflammatory comments, his racist campaign, his conflicts of interest [and] his refusal to disclose his taxes."
Nadler said that the “last straw” was Trump’s “ad hominem personal attacks on an icon of the civil rights movement, someone who suffered beatings and almost gave his life for this country, [Rep.] John Lewis [D-Ga.].”
Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (N.J.)
"Donald Trump will be our president, and I will work with him if my values permit, and if doing so is in the best interest of my constituents and the nation. But I will not celebrate his swearing-in to an office that he has proven unfit to hold," Payne said in a statement on Tuesday.
"President-elect Trump’s actions go beyond any kind of reasonable debate—they threaten the constitutional values our country is based on. I won’t dignify or normalize those threats by standing by at his ceremony," Pingree said in a statement Monday.
Pingree added that she plans to attend the Women's March on Washington the day after the inauguration.
Mark PocanProgressive Caucus elects Wisconsin lawmaker as new leader Hopes of bipartisanship fade amid Comey chaos Ryan tweet on classified info resurfaces after bombshell Trump report MORE (Wis.)“After reading classified Russian hacking doc & @realDonaldTrump offensive tweets to @repjohnlewis I will not be attending the Inauguration,” he tweeted.
Rep. Mike Quigley (Ill.)
Quigley "fully supports the peaceful transfer of power," a spokeswoman told The Chicago Tribune, "but [he] has chose to spend the week with those who have elected him."
Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.)
Raskin said he that for weeks he’s “assumed” he’d attend the inauguration “as a gesture of constitutionalism.”
“But, as the hour approaches, I realize that I cannot bring myself to go,” he said in a Tuesday evening statement, adding that “The moral and political legitimacy of this presidency are in the gravest doubt.”
“… I do not rejoice in this decision or take pride in it, any more than I would rejoice or take pride in going; the inauguration ceremony is just a fact of life now, and we must all deal with it as best we can,” he continued.
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (Calif.)
“I thought long and hard about attending the Inauguration because I value our democracy and respect the office of the presidency, regardless of party. However, the disparaging remarks the President-elect has made about many groups, including women, Mexicans, and Muslims, are deeply contrary to my values.
Rep. Raul Ruiz (Calif.)
“A real president doesn't attack the press because they ask tough questions,” Ruiz told the Desert Sun. “A real president doesn't insult and bully celebrities or everyday Americans because they disagree with him. A real president doesn't use the office to make millions more for his own wealth or his family's wealth.”
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.)
“I have decided to join the growing group of my colleagues who will not attend the Inauguration in protest of a President who used bigotry, fear, and lies to win an election that was tainted by foreign interference and voter suppression – and who intends to betray the interests of the ordinary working people who put him in office,” she tweeted.
Rep. Terri Sewell
Terri SewellA guide to the committees: House CBC to Trump: Keep Richard Cordray, ensure the protection of American consumers WHIP LIST: More than 60 Dems boycotting Trump's inauguration MORE (Ala.)
Sewell says she cannot attend given the "disrespect" Trump showed toward her mentor Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.)
Shea-Porter tweeted Monday night that she will “go to religious services to pray for all of our leaders and people, then will serve my district.”
Rep. Louise Slaughter (N.Y.)
"Congressman John Lewis and I came to Congress at the same time, and he has become like a brother to me," Slaughter said in a statement on Tuesday.
"For all that he’s stood for all these years, I’m happy to stand with him. As tough as this decision is, I was sent to Washington to get things done, which is why I will be working with the president-elect in the years ahead to move my district and our nation forward."
Rep. Darren Soto (Fla.)
“I am deeply disappointed with Trump’s attacks against civil rights hero John Lewis and will not be attending the inauguration as a result,” Soto said, according to WFTV Orlando.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (Miss.)
Thompson's office told the Clarion-Ledger that he would not attend the inauguration. “Mr. Trump’s recent insensitive and foolish remarks about civil rights hero John Lewis were far beneath the dignity of the Office of the President," said Cory Horton, legislative director for Thompson.
Rep. Juan Vargas (Calif.)
Vargas announced Tuesday on Twitter that he’ll skip the inauguration.
“Instead, I will be praying for our country and for our community with the people of my district,” he added.
Rep. Filemon Vela (Texas)
"Mr. Trump’s repeated acts of disrespect for the 33 million Americans of Hispanic descent are historic in modern times," Vela tweeted. "The hope that his actions as President would not match his political rhetoric is becoming more and more of a distant dream."
“I never ever contemplated attending the inauguration or any activities associated w/ @realDonaldTrump. I wouldn't waste my time,” she tweeted.
Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (N.J.)
She’ll be holding an interfaith prayer vigil in Trenton, N.J., she tweeted on Sunday.
“I do not intend to attend the inauguration of PE @realDonaldTrump. Instead, join me for an Interfaith Prayer Vigil.”
Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (Fla.)
Wilson said she has been “torn” for months deciding whether to attend the inauguration or a family wedding also scheduled for this weekend.
“… It was a difficult decision, but I ultimately decided to stay in Miami to attend my god-daughter’s nuptials,” she said in a release Thursday.
She will “witness the historic transfer of power” in her district office with a group of young men from the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, she said.
Those constituents, she noted, “feel for obvious reasons an emotional connection to Mr. Obama, but the next few years could profoundly impact their lives and it is important for them to be equally engaged.”
Rep. John Yarmuth
John YarmuthWhite House budget chief apologizes to CBO analyst Ex-CBO directors offer scathing criticism of Mulvaney Key Dem: Mulvaney should apologize for attack on CBO analyst MORE (Ky.)
Yarmuth announced Monday night that he’ll skip Friday’s inauguration because Trump has used “his bully pulpit for insult and ridicule.”
“I will not be attending the inauguration because I believe the office of the President deserves our respect, and that respect must begin with the President-elect himself,” he said.
Citing Trump’s comments this weekend about Rep. John Lewis (R-Ga.), Yarmuth said, “This is not normal. It is an embarrassment to our country and to the office of the presidency, and we must send the message that this behavior is not acceptable from the leader of our nation. Not attending the Inauguration is one way for me to do that.”
Rep. Gerry Connolly
Gerry ConnollyFirst federal agency gets 'A' grade in IT report card Washingtonians take center stage at Will on the Hill Dem rep: Abuse, violence against the press 'hallmarks in Trump era' MORE (Va.)
Connolly cited Trump’s attack on Lewis, as well as his “harmful words” and backing Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a statement announcing he would not attend the inauguration.
“His disparagement of an entire religion; his racist rants about minorities; his resurrection of white supremacy; his ridicule of the disabled; his blatant misogyny and boasting of unwanted sexual advances; his intimidation of the press; his repugnant attack on civil rights hero John Lewis; and his disturbing defense of and advocacy for Vladimir Putin - a KGB thug - threaten our democratic institutions. How can I celebrate that?”
Updated: Jan. 19, 3:48 p.m.
