The Latest on President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech (all times local):
WASHINGTON — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech (all times local):
9 p.m.
Melania Trump received a standing ovation as she entered the House chamber to take her seat for the State of the Union address.
The first lady — wearing a white Dior pantsuit — arrived at the Capitol before President Donald Trump, a change from last year, when they rode together in the limousine.
Mrs. Trump’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, says the first lady went early to accompany guests whose stories amplify the president’s agenda and who will sit in her guest box.
The first lady hadn’t been seen in public with Trump since The Wall Street Journal reported this month that, in 2016, Trump’s lawyer paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an affair she had with Trump. Daniels issued a statement Tuesday denying the affair.
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8:55 p.m.
Democrats crowding the House chamber are letting buttons — and the color of their clothes — send messages.
Many are wearing rectangular lapel buttons that say « TIME’S UP, » a statement against workplace sexual harassment. Several members of Congress have ended their careers lately over harassment allegations, and the buttons were distributed at a morning meeting of Democratic lawmakers.
Some are wearing red buttons that say « RECY. » That is a tribute to Recy Taylor, a black woman from a rural Alabama sharecropping family who was gang-raped by six white men in 1944. No charges were brought despite confessions, but her case became a galvanizing force for the civil rights movement.
Virtually all Democratic women are dressed in black, a show of support for the #MeToo movement.
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8:25 p.m.
First lady Melania Trump has traveled to Capitol Hill separately from her husband, President Donald Trump, ahead of his State of the Union speech.
That’s a change from last year, when the first couple made the trip up Pennsylvania Avenue in the same vehicle.
Mrs. Trump’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, says the first lady went early, accompanying a group of guests for the speech whose stories amplify the president’s agenda. Grisham says the first lady and Karen Pence held an « intimate meet-and-greet » at the Capitol for the guests. A White House official says Mrs. Trump is expected to ride back to the White House with her husband after the speech.
Mrs. Trump hadn’t been seen in public with her husband since The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that in 2016, Trump’s lawyer paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an affair she said she had with the future president. Daniels on Tuesday issued a statement denying the affair happened.
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8:15 p.m.
An hour before President Donald Trump’s big speech, the House chamber is beginning to fill with lawmakers eying prime seats and making small talk.
Republicans seem more intent on arriving early. The GOP side is filling steadily while Democrats are taking a bit more time getting to their posts. Indeed, about a dozen Democratic lawmakers have announced they won’t be attending the speech.
Early arrivals include Republican Reps. Mark Walker of North Carolina, Gregg Harper of Mississippi and Louie Gohmert of Texas, all intent on securing an aisle seat and a chance to greet the president when he enters the House chamber and makes his way to the podium.
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8 p.m.
Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III says it would be easy to dismiss the first year of President Donald Trump’s presidency as « chaos » marked by partisanship and politics.
But Kennedy says Trump has caused serious problems for the American people, including proposals that target Muslims, transgendered people and others.
Kennedy is delivering the Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union address.
In excerpts released early, Kennedy says the Trump administration « isn’t just targeting the laws that protect us — they are targeting the very idea that we are all worthy of protection. »
In apparent reference to Trump, Kennedy says « bullies may land a punch » and leave a mark but have « never managed to match the strength and spirit of a people united in defense of their future. »
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7:45 p.m.
President Donald Trump is declaring a « new American moment » in his State of the Union address — but his former campaign foe, Hillary Clinton, declared one first.
« This is our New American Moment, » Trump will say, touting the state of the economy, according to excerpts released by the White House. « There has never been a better time to start living the American dream. »
In a 2010 speech, then-Secretary of State Clinton told the Council on Foreign Relations that « a new American moment » was taking shape on the global stage, « a moment when our global leadership is essential, even if we must often lead in new ways. »
It’s hardly the first time Trump has appropriated a slogan. « Let’s Make America Great Again » was popularized in 1980 by Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign.
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6:50 p.m.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will skip Tuesday’s State of the Union address, serving as the so-called « designated survivor. »
A member of the presidential line of succession traditionally skips the address to the joint session of Congress and is safeguarded at an undisclosed location to ensure continuity of government in the event of a catastrophe. Usually, a lesser-known member of the president’s Cabinet is selected — with higher-profile officials retained to applaud the president’s speech from the floor of the House.
The Cold War-era ritual took on new significance after the attacks of September 11,2001, as fears of terrorism replaced nuclear war as a top threat facing the nation.
A designated high-ranking member of Congress also traditionally skips the speech to maintain the legislative branch’s continuity plans.
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6:40 p.m.
President Donald Trump will tell the American people that it is « our new American moment » and call on Republicans and Democrats to come together in his State of the Union speech.
That’s according to excerpts released Tuesday evening by the White House.
Trump will strike an optimistic and bipartisan tone, telling Americans he is « extending an open hand to work with members of both parties, Democrats and Republicans, to protect our citizens, of every background, color and creed. «
He’ll also discuss the impact of the Republican tax overhaul, explain his administration’s efforts to combat the Islamic State group and call on Congress to pass a major infrastructure investment plan.
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6:30 p.m.
A handful of immigrants who have legally lived in the U. S. since disasters struck their countries years ago will attend President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address as guests of Democratic lawmakers.
The immigrants benefit from temporary protections granted to people from countries ravaged by natural disasters or war.
The Trump administration has ended the temporary protection for El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua and will make a decision later this year for Honduras.
Democratic lawmakers want to put a face on immigration policy.
Nery Martinez, guest of Nevada Rep. Jacky Rosen, fled civil war in El Salvador and now lives in Las Vegas. Martinez says he’ll be at the address to remind the president that temporary protection recipients are « here to make this already great nation even greater. »
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5:30 p.m.
What has President Donald Trump learned in his first year as president? That you have to lead with « heart. »
That’s what Trump told network news anchors during a pre-State of the Union lunch Tuesday.
Trump says, « You govern with all of the instincts of a businessperson, but you have to add much more heart and soul into your decisions than you would ever have even thought of before. »
That’s according to excerpts released by the White House.
Trump also says issues like immigration would be « so simple » to solve if they were pure business matters, but he says he realizes that « millions and millions of people » are affected by his actions.
He adds that « it’s much different, in that way, than I thought it would be.
