President Trump is set to deliver the State of the Union address from the House Chamber tonight. Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate and voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams will deliver the Democrats’ response, with California Attorney General Xavier Becerra delivering the Spanish-language response.
Democratic lawmakers have invited guests who are affected by some of President Trump’s most controversial policies. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley will bring a mother and daughter who were separated at the U.S.-Mexico border last year as part of Trump’s family separation policy. California Democratic Congressmember Zoe Lofgren invited Shaima Swileh, a Yemeni mother who had to sue in order to receive a travel waiver to see her dying son—a U.S. citizen—because of Trump’s Muslim ban. Victorina Morales, an undocumented worker who used to work at a Trump golf club before going public with her story in December, will accompany New Jersey Congressmember Bonnie Watson Coleman. The Trump Organization has fired at least 18 undocumented workers since Morales broke her story. Tune in tomorrow for Democracy Now!’s special coverage of the State of the Union.