Democrats in Congress are playing a dangerous game by not attending Donald Trump’s inauguration.

In veritable droves now, Democratic members of Congress are announcing their plans to boycott the inauguration of Presidentelect Donald Trump. Their desire to issue a strong rebuke to a man petulantly contemptuous of any and all opposition is understandable. Their determination to forcefully resist especially troubling elements of his agenda is admirable.

But as leaders of the federal government, their refusal to attend the swearing-in of the next President, and bless the peaceful transition of power from one duly elected leader to the next, is juvenile, and will likely only strengthen the hand of a man they seek to weaken.

A few dozen Democratic lawmakers had already announced their intention to skip the inaugural. Over a weekend in which the nation celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — and Trump cheaply insulted civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis, who said he didn’t view Trump as “a legitimate President” — many more piled on

Among the 50 who will now not even show their faces are New York Reps. Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat, Nydia Velazquez and Jerry Nadler, who outright calls Trump’s presidency “illegitimate.” This is a dark road to walk down. It is a fact that Trump lost the popular vote by nearly 3 million ballots, and that Russian interference played a role in the election’s homestretch. An independent congressional probe must determine just how deep that meddling went.

And it is true that Trump’s refusal to fully divest from the business empire he built — which may also have deep Russian connections he has yet to disclose — will require intense and consistent scrutiny, by the Congress, the media and goodgovernment groups.

But fairly if not squarely, on Nov. 8, Trump won the support of enough voters to claim the requisite number of Electoral College votes necessary to win the presidency. That will make him President of the United States, owed the simple recognition that he will be imbued by the Constitution with the powers and responsibilities that confers.

Come noon Friday, should he sign a bill, it becomes law. Should he appoint a judge with Senate consent, that jurist has the authority to issue binding rulings. Should he send troops to battle, they are so ordered by the commander in chief.

Democrats do not owe Trump much. And given the way Trump treats his opponents — calling Sen. Chuck Schumer a “clown” is one of his gentler insults — it is difficult even to insist he deserves to be addressed in an especially respectful tone.

But admit he will be President they must. In the process, they may even win support by proving themselves to be bigger men and women than the Very Big Man who has a horrible habit of acting very, very small indeed.