White House announces Trump guests for State of the Union

The White House on Monday announced the guests who will join President Trump and first lady Melania Trump at the U.S. Capitol for the State of the Union address. 

The crop of individuals who will visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday night include family members of a couple allegedly killed by an immigrant in the country illegally, a young boy who says he faced bullying due to his sharing the last name “Trump,” a survivor of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and a woman Trump granted clemency last year.

{mosads}”This year’s guests come from all different walks of life, and each has an incredible story to tell. No matter their background, each one has something important in common: They represent the very best of America,” the White House said in a statement. 

More than 10 people will sit with the first lady while Trump delivers his annual State of The Union address. 

Timothy Matson, a member of the Pittsburgh Police Department who suffered multiple gunshot wounds when a man opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue in October of last year, will be in attendance. So will Judah Samet, a Holocaust survivor and a survivor of the Tree of Life shooting.

Joshua Trump, an 11-year-old from Delaware whose parents said he faced bullying in school because of his last name, will also be in attendance. 

The White House statement says Joshua Trump was “thankful to the First Lady and the Trump family for their support.”

The daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Gerald and Sharon David will also serve as special White House guests. Gerald and Sharon David were murdered in their home in Nevada earlier this year, allegedly by an immigrant in the country illegally. 

Alice Johnson will also be there. Johnson was serving a life sentence for nonviolent drug and money laundering charges until President Trump granted her clemency last year after meeting with Kim Kardashian West about her case.

Other special guests include the first prisoner released as a result of the First Step Act and a woman recovering from an opioid addiction. 

Trump’s State of the Union address will come after it was delayed a week due to a 35-day partial government shutdown. Trump signed a continuing resolution last month to temporarily reopen the government, but has continued to demand that funds for a border wall be included in a long-term spending bill. 

Democrats have repeatedly opposed the demand.