Balint Says She Will Skip Trump's Address to Congress

U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) speaking against the budget bill last week Credit: Screenshot

Updated at 12:49 p.m.

Vermont’s only member of the U.S. House of Representatives said on Tuesday that she will not attend President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress scheduled for later in the evening.

Instead, U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) said she will take part in an online effort with other lawmakers to fact-check the president in real time.

“I watched as the President swore an oath to uphold and protect the constitution. I won’t sit and watch him lie to the American people again,” Balint said in a statement on Tuesday morning.

Vermont’s two senators said they will attend the speech.

U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) plans to bring Allison Hope, the executive director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association, as a guest to draw attention to what he called Trump’s “misguided plan” of imposing 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods, which went into effect on Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), meanwhile, plans to deliver rebuttal remarks on various streaming platforms after the speech, according to his office. Balint’s boycott is the latest in a growing list of efforts by Vermonters to stand up to what they see as the illegal, divisive and destructive actions of the president’s first few weeks in office.

There have also been mass protests across the state against federal cuts, a nationwide “Fight Oligarchy” tour by Sanders and more protests over the weekend when Vice President JD Vance took a ski trip to Sugarbush Resort in Warren.

In her statement, Balint said she attended Trump’s inauguration because she believes in the peaceful transfer of power. She noted, however, that Trump “spewed lies, stoked division and fear and made no effort to unify our country” during that speech.

“There is no doubt tonight’s presidential address will be more of the same,” Balint said.

Instead, she said her time would be better spent attending a virtual conversation billed as a “pre-buttal” to Trump’s speech. She’ll be part of a live fact-checking and reaction show during the address. The event begins at 8:15 p.m., before the speech starts at 9 p.m.

Other members of the House plan to attend, as do Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland.

“My conversation tonight will be the best way I can use my voice for Vermonters. They are sick of the lies and Trump’s complete and utter disregard for our constitution,” Balint said.