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Democrats select their ‘designated survivor’ for State of the Union address

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) will be the Democrats’ designated survivor for President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night. 

Thompson said in a Monday release that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) chose him for the role. The California Democrat will watch the speech from a secure, undisclosed location off campus from Capitol Hill.

His guest, Marine Corps veteran and Napa City Councilmember Bernie Narvaez, will attend in person. 

“Since the day he took office, this president has raised costs for hardworking families, unleashed [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] to terrorize our communities, and threatened unlawful military attacks on foreign countries,” Thompson said. “He’s made Americans’ lives and our democracy worse off.”

“President Trump is unpopular because he’s failed to lower costs, failed to fire [Homeland Security Secretary] Kristi Noem, and failed to follow the rule of law. Americans demand answers when he addresses the nation,” he continued. “We will keep holding him to account in the Congress, in the Courts, and in the court of public opinion.” 

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is the lone member of the House in the presidential line of succession. Congressional leaders have selected a designated survivor since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to ensure the continuity of the legislative branch.

In addition to Thompson, multiple congressional Democrats are skipping Trump’s address in protest of his policies. Some will instead attend alternative events such as the “People’s State of the Union” on the National Mall, an event hosted by liberal group MoveOn Civic Action, liberal media company MeidasTouch and other organizations.

The designated survivor from Trump’s Cabinet, meanwhile, has not been revealed. Last year, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins did not attend the president’s address to a joint session of Congress.

Following the president’s speech Tuesday evening, which he teased will be “long,” Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) will deliver the Democratic response.

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