Though today a recognizable part of State of the Union procedure, the presidential practice of inviting regular civilians to attend the event as “special guests” is actually a fairly recent one, beginning only with the Reagan administration in 1982. Historically, these invitees of the president and first lady have been Americans who either epitomize national ideals, or prove to benefit from the president’s political platform. Unsurprisingly, these guests seen at Tuesday evening’s SOTU were all personifications of the narrative that the president attempted to deliver during this address to Congress. From U.S.-born blue collar workers who have seemingly benefitted under his economy, to those who reflect his stance on immigration and border security, Trump was strategic in his selection of the evening’s guests. Here: a deeper look into who he invited, and why.
Ashlee Leppert: A member of the U.S. Coast Guard who specializes in aviation electronics, Ashlee rescued dozens of hurricane victims from floodwaters and destruction in Louisiana. Specifically, during one of her rescue missions, Leppert reportedly hoisted to safety a woman who was clutching four small children.
Jon Bridgers: Founder of the nonprofit rescue team called the “Cajun Navy,” Bridgers created the organization to aid flood victims in Louisiana; he continues attempts to collect donations for areas still devastated today.
David Dahlberg: A fire prevention technician, Dahlberg saved a total of 62 people (both children and staff members) from an encroaching fire at a Santa Barbara summer camp during the wildfires in Southern California last year.
Officer Ryan Holets: A member of the Albuquerque Police Department, Holets and his wife adopted a baby from a homeless couple who, due to opioid addiction, were unable to care for the child themselves.
Cpl. Matthew Bradford: A retired veteran, Bradford lost his sight and both legs when he stepped on an improvised explosive device in 2007 during a tour in Iraq. After extensive treatment, he became the first blind double-amputee to re-enlist in the Marine Corps.
[Staff Sgt. Justin Peck:](https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2018/01/29/military-members-among-prominent-white-house-guests-for-state-of-the-union-address/) When an improvised explosive device detonated nearby and injured a fellow soldier, Staff Sergeant Peck rushed to the aid of the wounded military member, despite the potential danger, and provided him with lifesaving medical care.
Preston Sharp: A young 12-year-old boy from Redding, California, Sharp organized the placement of more than 40,000 American flags and red carnations on soldiers’ graves through what he called “the Flag and Flower Challenge.”
Steve Staub and Sandy Keplinger: Steve Staub and his sister Sandy Keplinger are the owners of Staub Manufacturing in Dayton, Ohio. After Trump took office, Staub says his business has prospered significantly—citing the fact that in the last year, the company both acquired a new building and saw a 60 percent increase in its employees, from 23 to 37.
Corey Adams: A welder at Staub Manufacturing, Adams, The White House states, was able to purchase his first home last year with his wife, thanks to the recent tax overhaul under Trump’s economic plan.
Elizabeth Alvarado, Robert Mickens, Evelyn Rodriguez and Freddy Cuevas: Parents Who Lost their Children: After four teenagers were violently murdered in Brentwood, New York in September of last year, authorities believed the killers to likely be members of the MS-13 gang; during Tuesday evening’s address, Trump noted that these gang members came to this country without proper documentation or citizenship.
Celestino “CJ” Martinez: an Air Force veteran and an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations unit, Martinez is responsible, the White House says, for the arrests of more than 100 MS-13 members.
