(The Center Square) – Neither of Wisconsin’s Democratic members of the U.S. House will be in the crowd for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Both Madison Congressman Mark Pocan and Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore this week said they plan to skip Monday’s ceremonies.
Pocan said he will instead spend the day “meeting with individuals and groups that may be targeted during the Trump presidency.”
Pocan said he also plans to have a day of service.
Moore said she too plans to spend inauguration day in Wisconsin.
“I will be in Milwaukee on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our city has a long history of MLK celebrations, even before it was designated a national holiday,” Moore said in a statement. “I am excited to join vibrant celebrations of a man who truly made America greater through his commitment to human dignity and equality. I look forward to celebrating with my constituents and witnessing how their creative talents through spoken word, music, and dance carry Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy forward.”
Both Moore and Pocan have long been critics of Trump, during his first term, and the four years of President Joe Biden’s presidency.
Moore said she would not attend Trump’s second inaugural because of how he handled his loss back in 2020.
“While I attended the session of Congress to certify the 2024 election results on January 6th, I will not be attending President-elect Trump’s inauguration,” Moore added. “I normally attend ceremonies like inaugurations and State of the Union speeches; however, through his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, President-elect Trump has shown no respect for our democracy or the rule of law, so I do not feel compelled to attend the inauguration.”
Wisconsin’s Republican members of Congress are all expected to attend Trump’s inauguration.
Many of Wisconsin’s Republican Party leaders are also expected to be in Washington, D.C. on Monday to celebrate Trump’s return to the White House.
