These Democrats aren't attending Trump's inauguration after he blasts Rep. John Lewis
The number of lawmakers planning to skip the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump grew over the weekend after he criticized civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis.
As many as a dozen House members had already said they wouldn’t attend the swearing-in Friday, but others joined them in a show of support for Lewis.
After Lewis said in a Meet the Press interview that he believes Trump's election is illegitimate and he won't go to the inauguration, Trump tweeted Saturday morning that the Georgia Democrat should take better care of his “horrible” and “crime-infested” district and was “All talk, talk, talk - no action or results. Sad!”
Hours later, lawmakers began saying they would bow out of the inaugural ceremony because of the insults.
“I will NOT attend the inauguration,” Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., tweeted. “When you insult @repjohnlewis, you insult America.”
Trump blasts Rep. Lewis for saying his election not legitimate
Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., said that "after much thought," she also would stand with Lewis and not attend.
"I stand with those who have fought for us and encourage future leaders to act with inclusion and respect," she tweeted.
Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., said the decision for him was a personal one and “quite simple.”
“Do I stand with Donald Trump, or do I stand with John Lewis? I am standing with John Lewis," he said in a statement.
Lieu, whose office had previously told the online news site Mic he would be doing reserve duty the day of the inauguration, said he doesn’t dispute that Trump won the election, but he doesn’t want to “normalize” Trump’s behavior or the “disparaging and un-American statements he has made.”
“Trump — who lost the popular vote — has made a series of racist, sexist and bigoted statements,” he said. “In addition, he has attacked Gold Star parents, veterans such as John McCain and now civil rights icon John Lewis.”
Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., said the Lewis insults were the final straw, coming after Pocan's reading the classified report on Russian hacking and Trump's refusal to divest himself of his business interests. He had been planning to attend out of respect for the office of the president, he said, but changed his mind.
"I am no longer attending the event," Pocan said in a tweeted statement Sunday. "At minimum, it's time for Donald Trump to start acting like President Trump, not an immature, undignified reality star with questionable friends and a Twitter addiction. I hope for better, but will not hold my breath."
Trump slammed for attacking civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis
It’s unclear how many others will join them in sitting out. Many lawmakers slammed Trump for his criticism of Lewis but stopped short of saying they would skip his inauguration because of it.
The lawmakers who had said before the Lewis fracas that they wouldn’t attend include California Democratic Reps. Jared Huffman and Barbara Lee, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., and Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass. Mic is keeping a handy running list.