Melania Trump is attending Trump's address with families of people killed by undocumented immigrants
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
President Trump is expected to make his concern about illegal immigration a central point during his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night and Melania Trump's guests might just prove it. Among the first lady's guests are Jessica Davis and Susan Oliver, the widows of two California police officers who were killed by an undocumented immigrant. Jamiel Shaw Sr., whose son was shot by a different undocumented immigrant, will also be sitting with Melania Trump.
Shaw has previously opened a rally for Trump and the president vowed during the campaign to name legislation that enhances "cooperation with state and local authorities to ensure that criminal immigrants and terrorists are swiftly, really swiftly, identified and removed" after Davis' and Oliver's late husbands, Michael Davis Jr. and Danny Oliver.
Also sitting with Melania Trump will be Megan Crowley, who was diagnosed with Pompe disease and whose father helped develop an enzyme replacement therapy; Denisha Merriweather, who enrolled in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program and became the first member of her family to graduate from high school and college; and Maureen McCarthy Scalia, the widow of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
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.
"The president's guests at a joint session of Congress typically reflect the administration's priorities," The New York Times writes. "Presidents often refer to their guests during their addresses, sometimes using their personal stories to illustrate their points."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Political cartoons for February 3Cartoons Tuesday’s political cartoons include empty seats, the worst of the worst of bunnies, and more
-
Trump’s Kennedy Center closure plan draws ireSpeed Read Trump said he will close the center for two years for ‘renovations’
-
Trump's ‘weaponization czar’ demoted at DOJSpeed Read Ed Martin lost his title as assistant attorney general
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
-
Fed holds rates steady, bucking Trump pressureSpeed Read The Federal Reserve voted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged
-
Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
-
Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked with unknown liquidSpeed Read This ‘small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work’
-
Democrats pledge Noem impeachment if not firedSpeed Read Trump is publicly defending the Homeland Security secretary
-
The billionaires’ wealth tax: a catastrophe for California?Talking Point Peter Thiel and Larry Page preparing to change state residency
-
Hegseth moves to demote Sen. Kelly over videospeed read Retired Navy fighter pilot Mark Kelly appeared in a video reminding military service members that they can ‘refuse illegal orders’
