Around half of Democrats skip Trump State of the Union

"Rather than listen to Donald Trump lie to the American people, I will be hearing from the people of my district," Clark said in a statement ahead of the speech. By the numbers: Axios counted 20 Senate Democrats and just under 110 House Democrats in the chamber at the start of Trump's speech. That is roughly half of each party's chamber Democratic caucus."

"Democrats held several competing anti-Trump events, including a "People's State of the Union" on the Washington mall. The intrigue: Democrats started walking out of the speech shortly after it began, with Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) leaving the chamber about 45 minutes into the speech. Reps. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) and Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) followed suit a short time later."

"Democrats also immediately launched into protests and heckling, with Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) being escorted out for holding up a sign reading "BLACK PEOPLE AREN'T APES" and refusing to sit down."

During Trump's speech, roughly 110 House Democrats and 20 Senate Democrats were present, representing approximately half of each party's chamber caucus. Multiple senior Democratic leaders boycotted the event, including Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu. Clark stated she preferred hearing from constituents rather than listening to Trump speak. Some Democrats who attended walked out during the speech, while others engaged in protests and heckling. Democrats organized competing events, including a "People's State of the Union" on the Washington mall. Rep. Al Green was escorted out after holding a protest sign and refusing to sit down.

Read at Axios