While US President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of the United States Congress during his State of the Union address on Tuesday night (local time), one key official, designated a survivor, was absent.
Tuesday’s address was Trump’s first State of the Union before the 119th United States Congress after formally accepting an invitation from Mike Johnson in January. When Trump took the stage, he sat between JD Vance and Johnson, who traditionally sit behind the president during a speech.
The official theme for this year’s State of the Union address was announced as “America at 250: Strong, Prosperous and Respected.”
What is a Designated Survivor?
A Designated Survivor is a member of the United States Cabinet selected to remain in a secure, undisclosed location during major events where the United States Congress, the President, the Vice President, and other leaders meet, such as the State of the Union Address.
If a catastrophic event occurred during the speech, which brought together the president, vice president, cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and congressional leaders, the designated survivor would move up in the presidential line of succession and could assume the presidency.
Is President Doomsday the same as Designated Survivor?
Yes, the doomsday president is the same as the designated survivor.
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Who is tonight’s Designated Survivor?
Mike Thompson, who represents California’s 4th Congressional District, was selected as the designated survivor prior to the speech. The position is part of a long-standing security protocol designed to preserve the continuity of government in the event of a catastrophic incident at the United States Capitol.
Thompson wrote on X: “I’ve been selected as a designated survivor for tomorrow’s State of the Union, so I won’t be there in person, but I’ll be watching.”
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History of Designated Survivor in the US
The idea of ​​designated survivor is not just a creation of pulp thrillers or TV dramas like Designated Survivor starring Kiefer Sutherland. This is a real and significant national security measure that originated during the Cold War, when concerns about gathering the country’s top leaders in one place led to emergency planning for worst-case scenarios.
According to Gerhard Peters, co-director of The American Presidency Project, in notes to History.com, the tradition began when fears that a nuclear attack could eliminate the presidential line of succession made it necessary to “maintain some element of constitutional legitimacy.”
Until the 9/11 attacks, designated survivors generally had more flexibility in deciding where to stay during such events, according to Axios.
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Doug Collins, sworn in as the 12th Secretary of Veterans Affairs on February 5, 2025, served as the designated survivor during President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on March 4, 2025.
For those who have served in this role, the state of the union can be a relatively relaxed occasion at times. Jim Nicholson, the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, told NBC News that during George W. Bush’s 2006 State of the Union address, he was transported by helicopter to a “command center-like room” where he was served a “delicious” steak dinner.
No official designated survivor has been selected for former President Joe Biden’s 2021 joint address to the United States Congress, as several Cabinet members did not attend the address due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
