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State of the Union 2019: Live Updates and Analysis State of the Union 2019: Live Updates and Analysis
(35 minutes later)
President Trump will deliver his State of the Union address at 9 p.m.President Trump will deliver his State of the Union address at 9 p.m.
His first address to a divided Congress will take on a partisan edge.His first address to a divided Congress will take on a partisan edge.
Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, accused Mr. Trump of “blatant hypocrisy” even for “calling for unity.”Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, accused Mr. Trump of “blatant hypocrisy” even for “calling for unity.”
President Trump heads to Capitol Hill on Tuesday night to deliver what aides called a message of bipartisan unity in his first address to Congress in the new era of divided government, but any hope of harmony was dispelled long before he left the White House.President Trump heads to Capitol Hill on Tuesday night to deliver what aides called a message of bipartisan unity in his first address to Congress in the new era of divided government, but any hope of harmony was dispelled long before he left the White House.
The president and Democrats spent the hours before his State of the Union address exchanging political fire, making clear that whatever ritualistic calls for across-the-aisle cooperation he would issue later in the evening were unlikely to transform an environment that has turned increasingly toxic.The president and Democrats spent the hours before his State of the Union address exchanging political fire, making clear that whatever ritualistic calls for across-the-aisle cooperation he would issue later in the evening were unlikely to transform an environment that has turned increasingly toxic.
Read more from Peter Baker.Read more from Peter Baker.
Fred Guttenberg, whose son Jamie was killed during the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. last year, came to Washington for the confirmation hearings of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, and made news when the future justice — apparently thinking he was a protester — refused to shake his hand.Fred Guttenberg, whose son Jamie was killed during the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. last year, came to Washington for the confirmation hearings of Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, and made news when the future justice — apparently thinking he was a protester — refused to shake his hand.
Tuesday night, Mr. Guttenberg will be on Capitol Hill again, this time as a guest of Ms. Pelosi.Tuesday night, Mr. Guttenberg will be on Capitol Hill again, this time as a guest of Ms. Pelosi.
Mr. Guttenberg is among 20 people, other than her husband, Paul, who will sit in the House chamber as Ms. Pelosi’s guests. The list, which reflects Ms. Pelosi’s political priorities, includes five union presidents; three gun safety advocates (including Mr. Guttenberg) and three members of the military, two of them transgender.Mr. Guttenberg is among 20 people, other than her husband, Paul, who will sit in the House chamber as Ms. Pelosi’s guests. The list, which reflects Ms. Pelosi’s political priorities, includes five union presidents; three gun safety advocates (including Mr. Guttenberg) and three members of the military, two of them transgender.
The president of Planned Parenthood, Leana Wen, will also join Ms. Pelosi, as will Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver of New Jersey.The president of Planned Parenthood, Leana Wen, will also join Ms. Pelosi, as will Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., and Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver of New Jersey.
And the speaker’s list includes two chefs — the Food Network star Tyler Florence and José Andrés, who has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, including helping the devastated island of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria there.And the speaker’s list includes two chefs — the Food Network star Tyler Florence and José Andrés, who has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, including helping the devastated island of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria there.
The presence of Mr. Andrés may not go over well with President Trump; The Trump Organization sued him for breach of contract after Mr. Andres — upset over then-candidate Trump’s rhetoric about Mexicans — backed out of an agreement to open a restaurant in The Trump International Hotel here.The presence of Mr. Andrés may not go over well with President Trump; The Trump Organization sued him for breach of contract after Mr. Andres — upset over then-candidate Trump’s rhetoric about Mexicans — backed out of an agreement to open a restaurant in The Trump International Hotel here.
The suit was settled in 2017 for an undisclosed amount.The suit was settled in 2017 for an undisclosed amount.
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg— Sheryl Gay Stolberg
In a nod to the suffragists, many Democrat women decided to attend the State of the Union in white. They posed for group photos on a staircase, at one point clasping hands and holding them aloft. Representative Steny H. Hoyer, the majority leader, passed out white ribbons to his male colleagues.In a nod to the suffragists, many Democrat women decided to attend the State of the Union in white. They posed for group photos on a staircase, at one point clasping hands and holding them aloft. Representative Steny H. Hoyer, the majority leader, passed out white ribbons to his male colleagues.
Representative Dean Phillips, a freshman Democrat from Minnesota, went a step further and donned a white suit jacket with black lapels. Democratic lawmakers said they had included Republicans in their proposal, but it was unlikely that any would intentionally coordinate.Representative Dean Phillips, a freshman Democrat from Minnesota, went a step further and donned a white suit jacket with black lapels. Democratic lawmakers said they had included Republicans in their proposal, but it was unlikely that any would intentionally coordinate.
Several of the guests — among them, Ana Maria Archila, the activist joining Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York — also were resplendent in white.Several of the guests — among them, Ana Maria Archila, the activist joining Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York — also were resplendent in white.
Some outfits were last minute endeavors; Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Democrat of Florida, had her husband run to Nordstrom’s Monday night while she dealt with congressional duties. “That’s the kind of husband I have,” she said, laughing.Some outfits were last minute endeavors; Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Democrat of Florida, had her husband run to Nordstrom’s Monday night while she dealt with congressional duties. “That’s the kind of husband I have,” she said, laughing.
— Emily Cochrane— Emily Cochrane
Representative Steve King, the Iowa Republican embroiled in a firestorm over racist remarks and charges of white supremacist sympathies, made something of his own statement by bringing Lynnette Hardaway, better known as her online persona Diamond from the Trump-supporting duo Diamond and Silk.
Mr. King on Twitter said the two women, who are both black, had a coin toss to see who would take the ticket.
— Emily Cochrane
Mr. Trump is expected to mention troop withdrawals in Syria and Afghanistan, issues that are more divisive in his own party than with Democrats. The Republican-led Senate has rebuked Mr. Trump over his moves.
In Afghanistan, the anxiety is even higher. Ordinary Afghans and their leaders wonder whether the United States is handing the country over to the Taliban.
On Tuesday evening, three hours before the start of Mr. Trump’s speech, a State Department spokesman said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had spoken with Ashraf Ghani, president of Afghanistan, by telephone. Mr. Pompeo sought to “reaffirm the U.S. commitment to achieving a lasting peace in Afghanistan,” the spokesman, Robert Palladino, said. Mr. Pompeo also stressed the need for a cease-fire that would allow political groups, including the Taliban, to reach a settlement, he added. Mr. Pompeo highlighted the role of Zalmay Khalilzad, the United States special representative for Afghanistan, in trying to forge “an inclusive peace process,” he said.
They were words aimed at calming Mr. Ghani. The Afghan president is uncomfortable with Mr. Khalilzad’s negotiations, and last week Mr. Ghani sent Mr. Trump a letter offering him reduced costs for keeping American troops in the country.
— Edward Wong
A handful of House Democrats announced they would not attend Tuesday night’s address. Representative Al Green, Democrat of Texas, who has introduced articles of impeachment against the president, was blunt.
“I am continuing my two-year protest of an unfit, impeachable president by not attending his State of the Union address. President Donald J. Trump has exhibited his unfitness for office since initially campaigning and thereafter governing with a propensity to promulgate and promote bigotry and bigoted policies against Muslims, people of color, women, immigrants, as well as members of the LGBTQ community. Since his inauguration, he has harmed our society by making bigotry and invidious discrimination more acceptable across our country.”
Stacey Abrams, her party’s nominee for Georgia governor and a possible Senate candidate next year, will have some competition when she delivers the official Democratic response to Mr. Trump’s State of the Union Address Tuesday night.Stacey Abrams, her party’s nominee for Georgia governor and a possible Senate candidate next year, will have some competition when she delivers the official Democratic response to Mr. Trump’s State of the Union Address Tuesday night.
Two presidential hopefuls — Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont (who has not announced his candidacy but is widely expected to) and Kamala Harris of California (who has) — say they will give their own rebuttals to Mr. Trump.Two presidential hopefuls — Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont (who has not announced his candidacy but is widely expected to) and Kamala Harris of California (who has) — say they will give their own rebuttals to Mr. Trump.
Mr. Sanders will deliver his remarks after Ms. Abrams speaks, via live stream on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.Mr. Sanders will deliver his remarks after Ms. Abrams speaks, via live stream on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Ms. Harris will deliver a pre-buttal; she intends to speak at 7:45 p.m., on Facebook Live and will “push back on the President’s expected message of division, highlight the importance of speaking truth, and outline her vision for a country that works for all its people,” her office said.Ms. Harris will deliver a pre-buttal; she intends to speak at 7:45 p.m., on Facebook Live and will “push back on the President’s expected message of division, highlight the importance of speaking truth, and outline her vision for a country that works for all its people,” her office said.
Ms. Abrams, whose remarks will be nationally televised, will be speaking from Atlanta. Since her narrow loss to the former Georgia secretary of state, Brian Kemp, she has founded an organization, Fair Fight Action, dedicated to expanding voting rights.Ms. Abrams, whose remarks will be nationally televised, will be speaking from Atlanta. Since her narrow loss to the former Georgia secretary of state, Brian Kemp, she has founded an organization, Fair Fight Action, dedicated to expanding voting rights.
A spokeswoman said she will be “surrounded by Georgians during her speech — activists, labor leaders, health care professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, voters who struggled to vote in 2018 or who watched their communities struggle to vote, her family, and more.”A spokeswoman said she will be “surrounded by Georgians during her speech — activists, labor leaders, health care professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, voters who struggled to vote in 2018 or who watched their communities struggle to vote, her family, and more.”
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg— Sheryl Gay Stolberg
In his first State of the Union address last year, President Trump outlined his vision for an “America first” approach to overhauling the immigration system, revitalizing manufacturing and prioritizing national interests abroad.In his first State of the Union address last year, President Trump outlined his vision for an “America first” approach to overhauling the immigration system, revitalizing manufacturing and prioritizing national interests abroad.
As Mr. Trump prepares to deliver his second address on Tuesday, which is also expected to highlight the president’s immigration agenda, here’s an assessment of his progress on the promises he made last year on immigration, trade, health care and other issues.As Mr. Trump prepares to deliver his second address on Tuesday, which is also expected to highlight the president’s immigration agenda, here’s an assessment of his progress on the promises he made last year on immigration, trade, health care and other issues.
— Linda Qiu— Linda Qiu
[Sign up for Crossing the Border, a limited-run newsletter about life where the United States and Mexico meet.][Sign up for Crossing the Border, a limited-run newsletter about life where the United States and Mexico meet.]
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. does not care for the State of the Union ceremony, having called it “a political pep rally.” But he is expected to be in there Tuesday night, extending a perfect attendance record since he joined the Supreme Court in the fall of 2005.Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. does not care for the State of the Union ceremony, having called it “a political pep rally.” But he is expected to be in there Tuesday night, extending a perfect attendance record since he joined the Supreme Court in the fall of 2005.
He is likely to be joined by Mr. Trump’s two appointees, Justices Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh. That is no surprise. Political scientists have found that attendance by justices in their early years is common, probably prompted by gratitude and loyalty.He is likely to be joined by Mr. Trump’s two appointees, Justices Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh. That is no surprise. Political scientists have found that attendance by justices in their early years is common, probably prompted by gratitude and loyalty.
Justice Antonin Scalia, who said the State of the Union address was “a juvenile spectacle,” went to seven of the first nine after joining the court, through 1997. He died in 2016 without having attended another.Justice Antonin Scalia, who said the State of the Union address was “a juvenile spectacle,” went to seven of the first nine after joining the court, through 1997. He died in 2016 without having attended another.
But he did not fault new justices for going, saying in 2010 that it was easier to stay home “when the president giving the State of the Union is not the man who appointed you.”But he did not fault new justices for going, saying in 2010 that it was easier to stay home “when the president giving the State of the Union is not the man who appointed you.”
Justice Elena Kagan, who has been a consistent presence since her appointment by President Barack Obama in 2010, is expected to go. But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is recovering from cancer surgery in December, did not attend last year’s address and is not expected. On Monday, she made her first public appearance since the surgery, at a musical celebration of her life.Justice Elena Kagan, who has been a consistent presence since her appointment by President Barack Obama in 2010, is expected to go. But Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is recovering from cancer surgery in December, did not attend last year’s address and is not expected. On Monday, she made her first public appearance since the surgery, at a musical celebration of her life.
— Adam Liptak— Adam Liptak