Nancy Pelosi joins Dems in wearing white, wears ‘Release the Files’ pin at Trump’s SOTU

Teresa Leger Fernandez said the Democratic Women’s Caucus wore white to honor women’s rights struggles while signaling the fight still continues
PUBLISHED FEB 25, 2026
Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives for the State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC (Getty Images)
Rep Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives for the State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Many Democrats, especially women politicians, are reportedly donning white attire and pins that say “Stand with Survivors, Release the Files” as they attend Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.

The pin is related to the controversy surrounding the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Some are also reportedly wearing teal scarves to raise awareness for assault prevention.

Nancy Pelosi is one of the prominent Democratic members who showed up at the event wearing the pin and a white blazer.

US Reps. Nellie Pou (D-NJ), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Norma Torres (D-CA) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) look on prior to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran. (Photo by Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)
US Reps Nellie Pou (D-NJ), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Norma Torres (D-CA) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) look on prior to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC (Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images)

Dems wear white to 'honor that fight that women have always had'

Regarding the colour choice, Rep Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico said, “The Democratic Women's Caucus is wearing white both to honor that fight that women have always had and to signal we are still in the fight.”

Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) speaks at the U.S. Capitol alongside Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors and advocates on February 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced
Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) speaks at the US Capitol alongside Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors and advocates on February 10, 2026 in Washington, DC. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced 'Virginia's Law,' legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations that Schumer argues has shielded traffickers and denied survivors their day in court (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

She also mentioned a strict voter identification bill, called the SAVE America Act, that could disqualify tens of millions of eligible voters, including women who added their husband’s last name after marriage.

“Their attack on our ability to participate in our democracy elevated the color white this year because it represents women's right to vote and their power when they do vote,” Fernández noted.

Adding further, she stated, “The suffragists marched, protested and starved themselves so that they could get the right to vote. Here we are in 2026 and Republicans are trying to limit women's ability to vote. So we're going to be wearing white to honor the suffragists who had a vision that the women's vote could change America, and it has for the better.”

Trump hints about long speech at State of the Union address

President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the US Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a US military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

This came as the president is set to deliver his first union speech on Tuesday, February 24, the evening after taking office in 2025.

Earlier, Trump had said that his speech was “long” as he noted, “We have a country that’s now doing well. We have the greatest economy we’ve ever had. We have the most activity we’ve ever had.”

“I’m making a speech tomorrow night, and you’ll be hearing me say that. It’s going to be a long speech because we have so much to talk about,” the commander-in-chief added.

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