When asked about his plans for tonight, Rubio’s office pointed DailyMail.com to a Newsmax clip from last week in which the Florida senator denounces ‘COVID theatre’
Three Democratic lawmakers are skipping the State of the Union address after announcing they tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday morning, while Republicans like Senator Marco Rubio said they’re boycotting the speech over its virus testing requirement.
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington and Senator Alex Padilla of California all announced breakthrough virus cases despite being fully vaccinated and boosted.
The House of Representatives lifted its mask mandate just days before President Joe Biden’s Tuesday evening address to a joint session of Congress.
Attendees are still required to show proof of a negative virus test — something Rubio said he doesn’t ‘have time’ for.
‘I don’t have time to go take a COVID test today. I only take a test if I’m sick,’ Rubio told reporters on Monday, according to HuffPost.
When reached for confirmation Rubio’s office pointed DailyMail.com to a tweet the Florida senator shared last week captioned ‘I am done with the #Covid theatre’ where he also shared a brief Newsmax interview clip.
‘It’s just a game, so you know what, I’ll watch the replays on television, I don’t need to sit there and go through all of that just to make them feel good about, you know, how safe they’re being and all that,’ Rubio said in the video.
‘Honestly I’m just tired of all that COVID theater crap.’
Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton is also skipping Tuesday evening’s event.
Rubio’s fellow Florida Senator Rick Scott said he would decide today whether to attend Biden’s big speech.
‘I haven’t made a final decision on it,’ Scott told radio station News Talk 101, according to Florida Politics.
Security fencing surrounds the US Capitol on the morning of President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address, in Washington, DC on March 1
The fences have been erected ‘out of an abundance of caution’ according to the Capitol Police
Scott, who chairs the Senate’s campaign arm, claimed ‘nothing good is going to happen’ during the president’s remarks.
‘I don’t want to feel so obligated to stand up and say, “That’s a lie.” Because that’s what you feel like,’ he explained.
On the House side, five Republicans said they’re boycotting: Rep. Chip Roy of Texas; Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia; Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois; Rep. Bob Good of Virginia; and Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana. News of their boycott was first reported in the Daily Caller.
‘Members of Congress should not be subject to COVID-19 tests and social distance when it is not necessary, and the entire nation has ended most, if not all, coronavirus restrictions,’ Rosendale told the outlet in a statement.
Clyde wrote on Twitter: ‘I refuse to participate in Democrats’ political pandemic theater, which is why I will not attend Biden’s State of the Union address tonight.’
Meanwhile at least three Democrats are missing out, but not by choice.
‘I tested positive for COVID-19 today. I am fully vaccinated & boosted. I will be isolating & working remotely. My office remains fully operational for WA-01 constituents,’ DelBene wrote on Twitter Tuesday morning.
Three Democrats tested positive for COVID-19 the morning of Biden’s speech to a joint session of Congress. The House of Representatives, whose chamber the president will speak in tonight, lifted its mask mandate just days ago
Raskin and Padilla both said they tested positive on Monday evening.
The Maryland Democratic representative said he was experiencing ‘mild’ symptoms and was disappointed to be missing Biden’s speech.
‘Yesterday I took a COVID-19 test for Members planning to attend the State of the Union Address and tested positive. Having been fully vaccinated, and having received a booster shot, my flu-like symptoms have been pretty mild so far,’ Raskin said in a statement.
He said he would continue his work in Congress from home for the next week.
‘I am disappointed not to be able to attend President Biden’s State of the Union address in person,’ Raskin added. But I will follow his speech closely’
‘I will be cheering for President Biden’s powerful call to the world to continue to reject in every way possible Vladimir Putin’s illegal war of aggression against the people of Ukraine.’
Padilla, a freshman senator appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom to fill Vice President Kamala Harris’ seat, said he showed no COVID symptoms despite testing positive.
‘As I do regularly, I tested yesterday for COVID. Late last night, I received a positive test result with a breakthrough case. I’m asymptomatic and grateful to be fully vaccinated and boosted,’ Padilla wrote on Twitter.
‘In accordance with CDC guidance, I am isolating and working remotely. I will continue consulting with the Capitol’s Attending Physician and expect to return soon.’
Fencing has been erected around the United States Capitol as a security measure ahead of the State of the Union address, which Biden will deliver at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Capitol Police said it was done ‘out of an abundance of caution’ as law enforcement officers make preparations for a possible trucker convoy to disrupt the evening’s high-profile events in Washington.
Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger also requested the assistance of the National Guard and ordered several roads to be closed ahead of tonight.
