(NewsNation) — House and Senate lawmakers, U.S. Supreme Court justices, Cabinet members and invited guests will attend President Donald Trump’s joint session address to Congress on Tuesday — except for one pivotal person.
A “designated survivor” is a Cabinet member chosen by the president to stay behind during speeches like the State of the Union, leaving the United States with a leader in case of a catastrophic event.
Originating in the 1950s as a Cold War-era policy, assigning a designated survivor is an “obscure but important ritual” for joint-session events, according to the National Constitution Center.
Trump to deliver high-stakes address to joint session of Congress
Who is Trump’s designated survivor?
There’s no way of knowing who Trump has chosen quite yet. Typically, the name of the designated survivor is revealed just before, or even during, the address.
Like the president, the designated survivor has to meet a few requirements — they must be at least 35 years old and a natural-born U.S. citizen. All members of Trump’s Cabinet meet both requirements.
Previous designated survivors include:
2024: Education Secretary Miguel Cardona
2023: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh
2022: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo
2021: No one, since the pandemic did not allow all members of Congress to gather
2020: Interior Secretary David Bernhardt
2019: Energy Secretary Rick Perry
Previous designated survivor describes experience as ‘sobering’
In 2007, President George W. Bush selected then-U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to be his designated survivor for the State of the Union.
Gonzales told NewsNation in 2024 he received no special training to prepare him for the position but that he was given two options for passing the time.
“The option I chose was to put me in an airplane during the State of the Union,” Gonzales said. “I just felt perhaps it would be kind of cool to fly around as the president gave the State of the Union.”
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When he arrived at Joint Base Andrews, officials from every major department and agency appeared with the necessary documents to advise him in case of disaster.
“President Bush gave his State of the Union, and it was at that point in time where I suddenly realized, ‘Oh, my gosh, if something happened back at the Capitol, then conceivably, I would become president of the United States,’” Gonzalez said. “It is a sobering thought, quite frankly.”
When is Trump’s speech?
Trump will go to Capitol Hill with first lady Melania Trump tonight, with remarks slated to begin just after 9 p.m. ET — mere hours after he paused aid to Ukraine and enacted hefty tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico.
How to watch Trump’s address to Congress
You can watch the full joint address to Congress on NewsNation on TV, online at newsnationnow.com or on the NewsNation apps for your television or phone. Not sure how to watch NewsNation? Find your channel here.
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