Ahead of the State of the Union speech tonight, the White House has released a list of featured guests who will be joining First Lady Jill Biden in her viewing box. The White House said that these individuals were chosen to attend, and sit with the first lady, because they each “personify issues or themes to be addressed by the President in his speech, or they embody the Biden-Harris Administration’s policies at work for the American people,” according to Fox News. Bono from U2 will be in attendance, so not sure what police he will be connected to.
But besides sensationalism, the guest list includes the following, according to Fox News:
Bono, the lead singer of U2.
Paul Pelosi of San Francisco, California, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband.
RowVaughn and Rodney Wells of Memphis, Tennessee, the mother and stepfather of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year old unarmed Black man who died after he was severely beaten by multiple police officers during an alleged traffic stop in Memphis, Tennessee.
Amanda and Josh Zurawski of Austin, Texas, a couple who were unable to receive treatment for an emergency miscarriage because doctors feared they would violate Texas’ anti-abortion law.
Mitzi Colin Lopez of West Chester, Pennsylvania, a DREAMer and recipient of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order in 2015.
Deanna Branch of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an environmental activist.
Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. was a guest last year when Biden spoke days after the Russian invasion of her country. She will return to the first lady’s box as Biden seeks to sustain U.S. and allied support for Ukraine.
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There will also be quite a few controversial guests in the First Lady’s box. Such as Paul Pelosi, the former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband. And Gina and Heidi Nortonsmith, who started the Goodridge vs. MA Dept. of Public Health court case that lead to Massachusetts becoming the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.
