Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) announced that he was selected by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) as one of the designated survivors ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union address.
“Since the day he took office, this president has raised costs for hardworking families, unleashed ICE to terrorize our communities, and threatened unlawful military attacks on foreign countries. He’s made Americans’ lives and our democracy worse off,” he said in a statement. “President Trump is unpopular because he’s failed to lower costs, failed to fire Kristi Noem, and failed to follow the rule of law. Americans demand answers when he addresses the nation. We will keep holding him to account in the Congress, in the Courts, and in the court of public opinion.”
Designated survivors do not attend the address in person, but instead view it from a secure location.
Sharing the news on social media, Thompson wrote, “I’ve been selected as a designated survivor for tomorrow’s State of the Union, so I won’t be there in person, but I’ll be watching. Americans deserve accountability for the militarization of ICE, terrorization of our communities and killing of American citizens.”
A number of Democratic lawmakers are expected to skip the State of the Union address, instead attending the “People’s State of the Union.” Some of the attendees include Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), as well as Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Becca Balint (D-VT), Greg Casar (D-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), John Larson (D-CT) and April Delaney (D-MD).
