State of the Union Address 2020: Highlights and Reactions
President Trump is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress at 9 p.m. Eastern time. The State of the Union address will cover topics such as Iran, tariffs, and immigration. The New York Times will provide live coverage of the speech, which will also be broadcast on major television networks and cable news channels. Democrats have selected Gov. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia to deliver their party's response, focusing on issues like rising costs and community chaos.
Ms. Spanberger, a moderate Democrat and former C.I.A. officer, has a track record of defeating Republican candidates in battleground districts. She plans to address the challenges facing Americans in her speech. Senator Alex Padilla of California will deliver the Spanish-language response to the address. The White House has invited the U.S. men's and women's hockey teams to the event, with the women's team declining the invitation due to scheduling conflicts.
Families of victims murdered by undocumented immigrants have also been invited to the address, highlighting the administration's immigration policies. Speaker Mike Johnson has invited Chinese dissident figures to shed light on human rights abuses in China. Some Democratic lawmakers are hosting victims of Jeffrey Epstein to draw attention to their stories and the slow release of information by the Justice Department.
Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota will host a Bangladeshi American who had a violent encounter with immigration agents. Dozens of Democrats plan to boycott the speech and attend an alternative event called the "People's State of the Union," organized by advocacy groups to address the impact of Trump's policies on various communities. The event will feature Democratic lawmakers and individuals affected by the administration's actions.