By Michael Phillips | MDBayNews
When U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen announced he would skip President Trump’s upcoming State of the Union address, he framed it as a principled stand against what he called “the shredding of our Constitution & democracy.”
But for many Marylanders, the move looks less like courage and more like choreography.
Van Hollen, who has spent virtually his entire adult career in elected office or public policy roles, is no outsider shaking up Washington. He is Washington. After decades in Congress and Annapolis before that, he represents the archetype of the modern career politician — insulated, secure, and largely untouched by the economic realities facing working families across the state.
So when he chooses to boycott a constitutionally mandated presidential address — a forum meant to outline policy priorities for the nation — it raises a fair question: Who exactly is this for?
Protest Politics Over Public Service?
The State of the Union is not a rally. It is not a campaign event. It is a formal constitutional obligation where the president presents his agenda to Congress and the American people.
Members of the opposing party traditionally attend, even when they disagree strongly. They attend because representation matters. They attend because debate requires presence.
Van Hollen’s decision to skip the address signals something different: a preference for symbolic resistance over engagement.
If the senator believes the president’s policies are dangerous or misguided, the proper venue to challenge them is Congress itself — through legislation, oversight, and public debate. Skipping the address may earn applause on social media, but it does little to advance policy arguments or protect Marylanders’ interests.
The “Fascism” Rhetoric
Labeling political opponents as “fascists” has become routine in national politics. It is a rhetorical shortcut that shuts down debate rather than encouraging it.
Marylanders struggling with rising costs, tax burdens, public safety concerns, and infrastructure issues are unlikely to see how skipping a speech improves their daily lives. They want accountability and solutions — not escalated rhetoric.
When elected officials resort to apocalyptic language, it often suggests a lack of substantive counterarguments. Strong democracies rely on disagreement. They do not require theatrical absences.
A Career in Politics — Not the Private Sector
Critics have long noted that Van Hollen, like many in Congress, has built his entire professional life within government and political institutions. While public service is honorable, it can also create distance from the realities of small business owners, tradesmen, and working families who operate outside the political bubble.
Maryland is home to federal contractors, entrepreneurs, service workers, and small business operators who show up every day — even when they disagree with leadership. They cannot simply opt out of difficult conversations.
Leadership requires engagement.
Maryland Deserves Representation — Even in Opposition
It is entirely legitimate for lawmakers to oppose a president. It is legitimate to vote against his proposals. It is legitimate to challenge executive authority in court or in committee.
But declining to attend the State of the Union does not strengthen institutions. It weakens the norm of bipartisan presence at major civic events.
If Van Hollen believes Marylanders are endangered by federal policy, he should be in the room — listening, documenting, responding, and challenging point by point.
Boycotts are easy. Governing is harder.
And in a time when trust in institutions is already fragile, symbolic gestures from long-tenured politicians may deepen public cynicism rather than restore faith.
Maryland voters will ultimately decide whether they prefer theatrical protest or active participation. But one thing is clear: skipping the State of the Union may generate headlines, yet it does little to address the real concerns facing the people of this state.
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