Johnson: “Shameful” Democrats would boycott address

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Tuesday touted Republicans' agenda ahead of President Trump's State of the Union address, calling it a "great time for America" and saying the party is working to make the country stronger, safer, more affordable and more prosperous.

"We're putting more money back in your pockets, we're restoring peace through strength, we're defending our border and deporting criminal illegal aliens, we're standing up for American industry and manufacturing, and we're making American workers — not foreign countries — the clear winners in this American economy," he told reporters.

"Tonight, President Trump will demonstrate that Republicans are the only team working seriously to bring common sense back to our broken system. It's promises made, promises kept."

The speaker also criticized Democrats who say they will skip the president's address and instead hold counterprogramming, accusing them of "Trump derangement syndrome."

"It's shameful that they would boycott an address," he said. "We don't do that. 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 there."