WASHINGTON, DC >> Northern California lawmakers are among a growing number of Congressional Democrats who plan to boycott President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, D- Oakland, and Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, have announced they will not attend the Jan. 20 event. In written statements, the two legislators cited divisive actions by Trump since the election — including his cabinet nominees, feud with the intelligence community over Russian interference in the election and unresolved conflicts of interest stemming from his business empire — for their decision to skip watching him be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.
“Inaugurations are celebratory events, a time to welcome the peaceful transition of power and honor the new administration,” Lee said Thursday. “On January 20th, I will not be celebrating or honoring an incoming president who rode racism, sexism, xenophobia and bigotry to the White House.”
On Friday, DeSaulnier said Trump’s actions since the election have been polarizing.
“Since being elected, he has demonstrated hostility toward our free and open press, committed to gutting health insurance for millions of hardworking families, and is filling his cabinet with nominees more closely aligned with Wall Street than Main Street,” DeSaulnier said in a statement.
