Sen. Patty Murray sharply criticized President Donald Trump, calling him “a disgrace” and “easily the most corrupt President in American history by a long shot,” announcing she would not attend his upcoming State of the Union address.
President Trump is a disgrace. He's easily the most corrupt President in American history by a long shot.
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) February 19, 2026
I'm not attending his State of the Union to listen to him ramble and lie.
Instead, I'll be sharing the ways he's hurting hardworking Americans.
“President Trump is a disgrace. He’s easily the most corrupt President in American history by a long shot,” Murray wrote. “I’m not attending his State of the Union to listen to him ramble and lie. Instead, I’ll be sharing the ways he’s hurting hardworking Americans.”
Murray’s decision to skip the annual address marks an escalation in rhetoric from the Washington Democrat, who has been increasingly vocal in her opposition to the administration’s immigration enforcement policies and the influence of senior White House adviser Stephen Miller.
Her latest comments build on a series of statements delivered during recent Senate hearings on federal immigration operations. In those hearings, Murray accused the administration of overseeing what she described as unprecedented government overreach.
I don't care if Stephen Miller wants ICE to be able to beat up, shoot, or detain citizens.
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) February 13, 2026
In America, we believe in due process. We believe in our Constitution. We believe in law and order—safe streets, law enforcement we can trust.
If you don’t like that? Go to Russia. pic.twitter.com/YNa53ZOp65
“I don’t care if Stephen Miller wants ICE to be able to beat up, shoot, or detain citizens. In America, we believe in our Constitution. We believe in law and order,” Murray said during one hearing, directly targeting Miller, who serves as Homeland Security adviser to President Trump. She added, “Sorry, but I don’t care if Stephen Miller wants a special force that’s empowered to beat up and detain or shoot whomever he doesn’t like. In America, we believe in due process. If you don’t like that, go to Russia.”
Murray’s assertion that Trump is “the most corrupt President in American history by a long shot” places him, in her view, beyond the controversies that have historically defined other administrations. Past presidents who faced major corruption scandals include Richard Nixon, whose role in the Watergate scandal led to his resignation in 1974; Ulysses S. Grant, whose administration was marred by multiple scandals involving associates; Warren G. Harding, whose presidency was overshadowed by the Teapot Dome scandal; and Bill Clinton, who was impeached over perjury and obstruction of justice charges tied to a personal misconduct investigation. More recently, ethics investigations and impeachment proceedings have shaped debates over presidential conduct in the modern era.
By declaring Trump the “most corrupt” in American history, Murray is drawing a direct comparison to those historical episodes while arguing that the scale and nature of current actions surpass them. Her refusal to attend the State of the Union underscores the depth of her opposition and signals that Democrats intend to keep scrutiny focused on the administration’s policies and conduct in the months ahead.
As Congress continues to debate funding levels and oversight mechanisms for immigration enforcement agencies, Murray has warned that continuing to fund ICE and CBP without additional reforms would amount to tacit approval of what she describes as lawless behavior. “Americans are demanding accountability, and we will settle for nothing less,” she said, framing the dispute as a constitutional issue rather than simply a policy disagreement.
