Trump's State of the Union guests include Alice Johnson and boy who says he's bullied because his last name is Trump
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have invited 13 people to attend the State of the Union as their guests, a diverse group described by the White House as representing "the very best of America."
The guests include Debra Bissell, Heather Armstrong, and Madison Armstrong, the daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter of a husband and wife allegedly shot last month in Reno, Nevada, by an undocumented immigrant; former opioid addict Ashley Evans; Roy James, plant manager of Mississippi's Vicksburg Forest Products; Homeland Security investigator Elvin Hernandez; Tom Wibberley, whose son Craig was killed in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole; and young brain cancer survivor Grace Eline.
Two guests were recently released from prison: Alice Johnson, whose sentence was commuted by Trump last year after lobbying by Kim Kardashian West, and Matthew Charles, sentenced in 1996 to 35 years in prison for drug dealing, but released last month as a result of the First Step Act. Two other guests survived last year's mass shooting at Tree of Life synagogue: congregation member Judah Samet and Pittsburgh Police Department SWAT officer Timothy Matson. The final guest is 11-year-old Joshua Trump of Delaware, who says he's been bullied because he shares a last name with the president.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Puppet shows, pagodas and pho: a guide to Hanoi
The Week Recommends Vietnam's capital city blends the ancient with the new
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'There are benefits, but not acknowledging them would tell only half of the story'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What Trump's win could mean for Big Tech
Talking Points The tech industry is bracing itself for Trump's second administration
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmations
Speed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's return
Speed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10
Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking protests
Speed Read Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu have clashed for years. The Israeli prime minister first tried to fire the defense minister in 2023, but backed off following a public outcry.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump wins, GOP flips Senate, House a tossup
Speed Read The Republican candidate flipped back the swing states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published