Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation are set to attend President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address, turning the annual constitutional ritual into a heated confrontation over accountability, transparency and political power. Their presence in the House gallery comes as dozens of Democratic lawmakers plan to boycott the speech and hold a parallel rally to denounce what they describe as democratic trash.
The juxtaposition underscores the volatile political climate surrounding this year’s speech: a chamber divided not only by politics but also by questions of fairness, institutional trust and the lingering shadow of Epstein’s crimes.
Epstein survivors seek accountability in house gallery
The decision by several Epstein survivors to attend the State of the Union was framed by Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapala as an act of public reckoning.
“Today the world will see that Donald Trump will have to face these survivors right in the gallery of the House of Representatives,” Jayapal said at a news conference.
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The lawmaker criticized what she characterized as a failure to pursue a broader prosecution linked to Epstein’s network. “Ambassadors and princes have been arrested in other countries,” Jayapal said. “But here in America, not a single investigation into the pedophiles and predators of Epstein’s horrific sex-trafficking ring has been announced.”
“We’re demanding an investigation right here at home,” Jayapal told a news conference attended by several victims of Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
Epstein’s death in federal custody, officially ruled a suicide, remained a source of public suspicion and political controversy. Despite years of investigation, only one person has been convicted of his activities in the United States: Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2021 of providing underage girls to a financier.
A renewed focus on the Epstein files
The Justice Department’s release of documents linked to Epstein has intensified calls for further investigation. Although several prominent figures have faced reputational consequences after maintaining relationships with Epstein following his 2008 conviction for sex offenses, no further criminal charges have been filed in the United States.
Epstein victim Lisa Phillips urged a wider international response.
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“Some may not have committed any crimes. Some may have. But every person associated with wrongdoing and Epstein’s world in any country must be investigated and, if appropriate, held accountable,” Phillips said.
Trump, whose name repeatedly appears in the released files, has not been accused of any wrongdoing. He resisted releasing the files for months before signing a law passed by Congress requiring their release.
The presence of survivors in the gallery places the issue squarely at the ceremonial and symbolic heart of American democracy, turning the presidential address into a moment of public moral reckoning.
The democratic boycott signals a deepening partisan rift
Parallel to the gallery protest, at least 30 Democratic members of Congress announced plans to boycott the address entirely. They include Senators Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, Ruben Gallego and Adam Schiff, along with Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Maxwell Frost and Greg Casar.
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Instead of attending, many will gather on the National Mall for an event called “The People’s State of the Union,” organized by the progressive media network MeidasTouch and the advocacy group MoveOn. The rally will be co-hosted by attorney and commentator Katie Phang and former anchor Joy Reid and aims to highlight the experiences of federal workers, immigrants and others affected by government policy.
In a statement explaining his decision not to attend the speech, Van Hollen said, “Trump is marching America toward fascism, and I refuse to normalize his crushing of our Constitution and democracy. This cannot be normal.”
