WASHINGTON — First Lady Melania Trump will bring two guests to tonight’s State of the Union address who embody her initiatives focused on foster care and artificial intelligence, a departure from precedent as President Donald Trump has also invited his own set of guests reflecting his administration’s priorities.
The decision to invite separate guests, previewed by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Fox News, signals a degree of independence the First Lady has established in her role. While traditionally, the First Lady’s guests are chosen to highlight themes within the President’s speech, this year’s selections underscore Mrs. Trump’s distinct focus areas.
Sierra Burns, a participant in the Melania Trump Foster Youth to Independence Program, will attend as a guest of the First Lady. Burns is currently pursuing a master’s degree in advocacy and social policy at Furman University in South Carolina and has been involved in developing training resources for foster care caseworkers, according to the First Lady’s office.
Joining Burns will be Everest Nevraumont, an 11-year-classic AI advocate and student at Alpha School Austin in Texas. Nevraumont recently delivered a TEDx Talk exploring the use of artificial intelligence in education. The First Lady has consistently advocated for better preparation of children for the integration of AI technology into their lives.
“Sierra and Everest embody my ongoing mission to uplift America’s foster youth and expand opportunity for our next generation through education and technology,” Mrs. Trump said in a statement released by her office.
The President’s guest list, as outlined by Leavitt, will feature individuals who “truly exemplify what it means to be a patriotic American” and have directly benefited from his policies. Among those expected to be highlighted is a waitress and mother from Pennsylvania who will benefit from the President’s policies eliminating taxes on tips and overtime pay. Another guest is a woman who is saving $3,500 on fertility treatments through the recently launched “TrumpRx” plan.
The President is also expected to address the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose widow, Erika Kirk, will be in attendance, and to discuss parental rights and gender transitioning, referencing the case of Sage Blair. The administration previously proposed rules prohibiting hospitals participating in Medicare and Medicaid from providing certain gender-affirming care to minors.
In a potentially unifying moment, President Trump will also honor Navy Captain E. Royce Williams, a 100-year-old war veteran, for his courage during wartime service.
This is not the first instance of the Trumps diverging from traditional State of the Union protocols. In 2018, the First Lady traveled to the Capitol separately from the President, choosing to ride with her invited guests.
