Tonight President Donald Trump gets to issue his third State of the Union address to lawmakers and guests on Capitol Hill.
Oh, right. Tonight also marks the eve of his likely acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial.
But let’s focus on tonight.
The White House announced guests for tonight’s speech, including the family of a soldier killed by a roadside bomb they say was supplied by Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, whose death Trump ordered via airstrike last month.
All members of Congress, from both the House and Senate, also get to bring a guest. Some will bring notable constituents. Others will bring family members. But officials can pick pretty much anyone.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also announced several guests who her office said had been “impacted by President Trump’s attacks on protections for people with pre-existing conditions, broken promise to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, broken promise to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, and broader health care sabotage.”
Some, like Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are boycotting the SOTU tonight and will not attend.
Our eyes are on Pelosi, though. Last year’s State of the Union brought the Twitter world to a frenzy with her famous clap.
And of course...will the president bring up impeachment?
Of course, the president isn’t the only one to speak tonight. As soon as Congress cuts his mic, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver one of the Democratic responses in English and Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas will deliver it in Spanish.
While some lawmakers and guests arrived shortly before the address, some GOP lawmakers have been waiting for hours to claim aisle seats.
Again this year, a group of female lawmakers are wearing white pantsuits in a sign of solidarity, but this year members of the Problem Solvers Caucus are also wearing purple ties or scarves in a show of bipartisanship.
In another attempt at bipartisanship, some senators walked with colleagues from across the aisle in the procession from the Senate to the House.
After passing on the chance to shake Speaker Pelosi’s hand (in what was probably the first meme-able moment of the night), the president began speaking about the strength of the U.S. economy--to standing ovations from the Republicans and grim looks from the Democrats.
The president surprised the audience by announcing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó was among them. Guaidó received a standing ovation as Trump referred to him as the official leader of Venezuela.
Another honoree in the chamber, 100-year-old Charles McGee, whom the president honored as one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, has fans around the world (and online). He was joined by his great-grandson who aspires to attend the Air Force Academy and join the U.S. Space Force.
The Space Force shout out also gave those following along on social media a chance to win (lose?) SOTU drinking games.
Trump was met with boos and chants of “H.R. 3” when he took a shot Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Sanders’ Medicare-for-All plan, calling it a “socialist takeover of our healthcare system” and said “get a bill on my desk and I will sign it into law immediately.” H.R. 3, meant to lower drug prescription prices, passed the House last year and has yet to make it onto the floor of the Senate
And this just turned from a SOTU address to Medal of Freedom ceremony, with Melania Trump presenting the conservative radio host with the highest civilian award in the U.S. Limbaugh recently announced he is battling lung cancer.
A spectator believed to be Fred Guttenberg, the father of Parkland high school shooting victim Jaime Guttenberg and guest of Pelosi’s, was escorted from the chamber for shouting out as the president made remarks on protecting second amendment rights.
Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib also exited the chamber after Trump boasted about Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court. Rep. Tim Ryan also walked out of the SOTU.
President Trump carried out a surprise military family union...in the middle of the State of the Union.
Pelosi, presumably fed up with the president’s words, tore his prepared remarks into tiny pieces of paper as he concluded his speech.
In the Democratic response, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, speaking from her daughters’ school East Lansing High School, said, “You can listen to what someone says, but to know the truth, watch what they do.” She focused on Democrats’ plans to improve issues like health care, education and infrastructure. And, unlike the president, did mention the impeachment vote looming tomorrow.
Just like any good party, there’s an after-party, and social media continues to blow up with reactions to some of the night’s biggest moments, but we’ll just leave you with this moment that may make many happy — no matter which party they support.
Story will be updated throughout the night.
