President Biden to be Joined by 26 Special Guests at State of the Union Address, Representing Key Administration Priorities and Accomplishments

On Tuesday evening, President Joe Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address, and he will be joined by 26 special guests who represent key administration priorities and accomplishments. These guests, invited by First Lady Jill Biden, include Rock star Bono, the 26-year-old who disarmed a gunman in last month’s Monterey Park, California, shooting; the family of Tyre Nichols; and Holocaust survivor Ruth Cohen.

The guests were invited “because they personify issues or themes” Biden will address in the speech or they embody administration policies that are working for the American people, the White House said. Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff will also be in attendance, and he has invited Ruth Cohen, a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor from the Washington area, to be his guest.

The guests also represent issues the administration has confronted in the past year, such as support for Ukraine in the face of Russian invasion, and the importance of mental health, climate, and health care. Ukraine’s ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova, Paul Pelosi, and Tyre Nichols’ parents are among those headed to the US Capitol.

In his address, President Biden is expected to touch on key themes of his presidency and offer a preview of a 2024 reelection message. The special guests in attendance will serve as a reminder of the administration’s accomplishments and the issues that still need to be addressed.