Missouri’s Cleaver May Join Exodus of Democrats Skipping Inauguration
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri stands at a crossroads that symbolizes the shifting Democratic response to President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration. The Kansas City Democrat may miss the ceremony, citing a scheduling conflict with Martin Luther King Jr. Day events at his church.
“It would not be part of a boycott if I decide I cannot make it,” Cleaver told reporters, reflecting a new tone among Democrats who plan to skip the January 20th ceremony. In a phone call with Metro Voice on Thursday, Cleaver’s office could not confirm final decision had been made.
This measured approach differs sharply from Trump’s first inauguration when more than 60 Democratic lawmakers openly boycotted the event. Cleaver, who is serving his 10th term in Washington, was one of those who did show up in 2017. While dozens still plan to stay away Monday, they’re framing their absences around scheduling conflicts and community commitments rather than political protest.
According to Reuters, the inauguration will mark one of the most remarkable political comebacks in American history, with Trump returning to power after winning both the Electoral College and popular vote against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York explained her planned absence as “just kind of a general conflict of logistics,” while citing safety concerns and event chaos as factors in her decision.
Some lawmakers, however, are more direct about their reasoning. Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett expressed that she couldn’t bring herself to watch Trump take the oath on MLK Day. “Considering this is also Martin Luther King Day, it just seems like the worst way to spend the day.” She made a wild claim that the incoming president “is going to work very hard to tear down the legacy” that King died for.
The shift in tone comes as Democrats grapple with Trump’s political comeback. Unlike 2017, when Democrats openly questioned his legitimacy, the response this year reflects a changed political landscape. Many representatives claim they are choosing to participate in local MLK Day celebrations.
Complete List of Democratic Representatives Not Attending the 2025 Inauguration:
ARIZONA
• Rep. Raul Grijalva (D)
• Rep. Ruben Gallego (D)
CALIFORNIA
• Rep. Karen Bass (D)
• Rep. Tony Cardenas (D)
• Rep. Judy Chu (D)
• Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D)
• Rep. Jared Huffman (D)
• Rep. Barbara Lee (D)
• Rep. Ted Lieu (D)
• Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D)
• Rep. Jerry McNerney (D)
• Rep. Grace Napolitano (D)
• Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D)
• Rep. Raul Ruiz (D)
• Rep. Mark Takano (D)
• Rep. Juan Vargas (D)
• Rep. Maxine Waters (D)
FLORIDA
• Rep. Darren Soto (D)
• Rep. Frederica Wilson (D)
ILLINOIS
• Rep. Sean Casten (D)
• Rep. Delia Ramirez (D)
KENTUCKY
• Rep. John Yarmuth (D)
MAINE
• Rep. Chellie Pingree (D)
MARYLAND
• Rep. Anthony Brown (D)
• Rep. Jamie Raskin (D)
• Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D)
MASSACHUSETTS
• Rep. Katherine Clark (D)
• Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D)
MISSOURI
• Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) (tentative, citing MLK Day events)
NEW JERSEY
• Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D)
NEW YORK
• Rep. Yvette Clarke (D)
• Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D)
• Rep. Jerry Nadler (D)
• Rep. Jose Serrano (D)
• Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D)
• Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)
• Rep. Ritchie Torres (D)
NORTH CAROLINA
• Rep. Alma Adams (D)
• Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D)
OHIO
• Rep. Marcia Fudge (D)
OREGON
• Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D)
• Rep. Peter DeFazio (D)
• Rep. Kurt Schrader (D)
PENNSYLVANIA
• Rep. Brendan Boyle (D)
• Rep. Mike Doyle (D)
• Rep. Dwight Evans (D)
TENNESSEE
• Rep. Steve Cohen (D)
TEXAS
• Rep. Joaquin Castro (D)
• Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D)
• Rep. Al Green (D)
• Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D)
• Rep. Sylvester Turner (D)
VIRGINIA
• Rep. Don Beyer (D)
WASHINGTON
• Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D)
• Rep. Adam Smith (D)
WISCONSIN
• Rep. Mark Pocan (D)
Notable Non-Congressional Figures Not Attending:
• Former First Lady Michelle Obama (while former President Barack Obama will attend)
Republicans Not Attending:
No Republican members of Congress have publicly announced they will skip the inauguration.
Notable Non-Congressional Figures Not Attending:
• Former First Lady Michelle Obama (while former President Barack Obama will attend)
Republicans Not Attending:
No Republican members of Congress have publicly announced they will skip the inauguration.
The inauguration, set against the backdrop of MLK Day observances nationwide, has become a reflection point for a nation still grappling with political divisions. While the ceremony will proceed with traditional pomp and circumstance, the absences speak to ongoing tensions in American democracy, even as the rhetoric surrounding them has notably softened since 2017.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
