Speaker Johnson slams Democrats who are skipping SOTU: 'Republicans don't do that'

House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday, who are missing the State of the Union address in order to attend counter-programming, claiming his party would not do the same if a Democrat was in power.

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers are expected to skip Tuesday night's signature address for other events, including an event outside the Capitol building that will take place on the National Mall.

The speaker claimed the boycotts were part of the "same tired playbook" the minority party has been using for over a decade.

"It's shameful that they would boycott an address. We don't do that," Johnson said. "Republicans don't do that. It doesn't matter if there's a president from the opposing party. We don't skip out. Our constituents want and need us to be here."

Johnson also warned during the House Republican leadership’s weekly press conference that the Left's "Trump Derangement Syndrome" is already on "full display," as they boast about their efforts to thwart the Trump administration. 

"This evening, the entire country will hear an update on the full scope of President Trump's transformational and historic first year back in office. The results speak for themselves," he said. "Democrats, meanwhile, are going to host — count them — five separate counter events, rallies of some sort, they call them, in lieu of tonight's address.

"For all of these theatrics, it doesn't matter how many little gatherings they have or where they stand or how high the volume is on the microphones. They have nothing to offer," he continued. "Nothing but their TDS agenda, the Trump Derangement Syndrome, and it's on full display." 

Johnson said Democrats will focus on their attempts to stop the Trump administration from achieving their agenda, including by shutting down the federal government for the longest time on record and holding massive protests in Democratic-led cities.

"All they can say, all they can tell you about, is how they oppose President Trump and thwart his agenda and shut down the government and protest everything from the president's joint address to basic immigration enforcement, and they obstruct any meaningful progress for the sake of obstruction," he said. 

President Donald Trump is expected to deliver his State of the Union address at 9 p.m. Eastern.