State of the Union guest lists show political nature of invitations
Newsy
Both President Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson invited over a dozen guests for the speech, many of whom are prominent activists.
The State of the Union guest list generally includes citizens not actively in elected office, but their invitations are generally very political.
The State of the Union is frequently among the most-watched political events of the year. In 2023, nearly 28 million Americans tuned in to watch President Joe Biden give his second State of the Union.
Early Thursday, the White House released its list of guests who will join first lady Jill Biden in the gallery. The guest list could indicate issues President Biden could address during his speech. Among the issues could be reproductive rights.
Among the guests on President Biden's list include Kate Cox, a Texas woman denied an abortion after she learned she had a non-viable pregnancy. She eventually left the state of Texas to seek an abortion.
Latorya Beasley, an Alabama woman who had an in vitro fertilization procedure canceled after a state court issued a ruling stating that Alabama's Wrongful Death of a Minor Act applies to all children, born and unborn, and without limitation, including frozen embryos, was also invited. The court added that it is not up to them to craft limitations to the act.
