Rep. Sean Duffy tells Democrats skipping inauguration to ‘put your big boy pants on’

Rep. Sean Duffy on Tuesday urged Democrats planning to skip Friday’s presidential inauguration to “put your big boy pants on” and show up.

“I’m disappointed that all these Democrats are saying they’re going to stay home,” Mr. Duffy, Wisconsin Republican, said on CNN’s “New Day.” “It’s like…I was a little kid and I’m used to getting a juice box and a trophy no matter whether I win or I lose.”

“Listen, Democrats lost. Donald Trump won. You may not like him. You might not agree with his agenda, just like we didn’t agree with President Obama’s agenda,” he said.

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“But show up,” he said. “Show up, be part of it. Put your big boy pants on and let’s start working together.”

Dozens of House Democrats say they plan to skip President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday. Some of them say they disagree with what Mr. Trump stands for, while others are going further and saying his election wasn’t legitimate because of alleged Russian meddling in last year’s campaign.

Mr. Duffy said it was a “very depressing day” in his household when President Obama won in 2008 and 2012.

“But guess what? We go to the inauguration, maybe with a heavy heart, but it’s part of this American process that Republicans and Democrats come together as one America as we transition” power peacefully, he said.