Congressman Bera To Skip State Of The Union: Won’t ‘Legitimize’ Trump

India-West News Desk

ELK GROVE, CA – Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA) has said he will not attend this year’s State of the Union address, saying he does not wish to lend legitimacy to President Donald Trump, whom he accuses of undermining constitutional norms and democratic institutions.

Writing in an opinion piece published by Meidas Touch on February 16, Bera said that while he has traditionally attended the annual address “out of respect for the president and the office,” he no longer feels compelled to do so under the current administration.

Bera charged that Trump has shown “utter disregard for Congress,” engaged in corruption, and used the presidency to benefit himself and his family. He said he would not “give him the dignity” of his presence at the joint session of Congress.

The congressman described the State of the Union as a setting Trump is likely to use for provocation rather than governance. He said he expects the president to make “outrageous and inflammatory statements,” spread falsehoods, and pressure Republican lawmakers into public displays of loyalty. Bera urged members of both parties not to “fall for his traps or feed his massive ego,” stressing that Congress represents the people, not the president.

Turning to policy, Bera argued that Democrats must more clearly articulate what they stand for. He said Americans want secure borders and public safety, but do not support indiscriminate immigration enforcement based on race or language. He added that voters back local law enforcement and favor National Guard deployments only when requested by state or local leaders.

Bera also outlined public priorities he said are being ignored, including stronger schools, lower costs for healthcare and basic necessities, and stable housing. He criticized efforts to censor books, dismantle the Department of Education, and pursue what he described as reckless foreign actions and erratic trade policies that shift costs onto working families.

On foreign policy, he wrote, Americans support allies contributing fairly to their own defense, while also believing that U.S. leadership through alliances is essential to upholding democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.

Concluding his essay, Bera said the United States is “better than what we see coming out of this president and this White House,” invoking former President Ronald Reagan’s description of America as a “shining city on a hill.” He wrote that Trump does not define the nation, adding, “We do.”

Bera currently serves as a senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.