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photo-article-logo Saturday, 28 February 2026

Epstein accusers, Olympians among guests at Trump’s State of the Union address

Over the past four decades, it has become customary for US presidents — and in recent years, lawmakers as well — to invite special guests to attend the President’s State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress

Reuters Published 25.02.26, 12:19 PM
People's State of the Union in Washington
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Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Barron Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Lara Trump, Jared Kushner and other guests attend U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)
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Over the past four decades, it has become a ritual for presidents, and more recently lawmakers, to invite guests to the presidential State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.

Here are some of those invited to sit in special galleries above the House of Representatives floor during President Donald Trump's speech at 9 pm ET on Tuesday (0200 GMT on Wednesday):

Epstein accusers

People's State of the Union in Washington
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Sharlene Rochard, an Epstein survivor and guest of U.S. Rep. Emily Randall (D–WA) attends the "People's State of the Union" event during U.S. President Trump's State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

Haley Robson, who has accused late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein of abuse, will be a guest of Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California, the lawmaker announced. Dani Bensky, another Epstein accuser, will be the guest of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

People's State of the Union in Washington
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Lauren Hersh, an Epstein survivor and guest of U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D–WA) speaks during the "People's State of the Union" event during U.S. President Trump's State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

Democratic Representatives Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia have invited Sky and Amanda Roberts, the brother and sister-in-law of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in 2025.

People's State of the Union in Washington
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Dani Bensky, an Epstein survivor, guest of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), arrives for U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

Olympians

The White House said it was trying to bring the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team to Washington in time for the speech. The team won the gold medal in Italy on Sunday against Canada.

State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C.
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Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and U.S. President Donald Trump's special guest, reacts as she is presented by U.S. President Donald Trump during his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters he expected the U.S. women's hockey team, which also won the gold medal by defeating Canada, to be invited. However, media reports said they declined because of previous commitments.

Nasa astronauts

Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, the crew of NASA's planned lunar spaceflight mission Artemis II, will be guests of Johnson. NASA is aiming to launch the four astronauts for a journey around the moon and back on March 6 in what would be the first crewed moon mission in more than 50 years.

State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington DC
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Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen, the crew of NASA's planned lunar spaceflight mission Artemis II, before U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

Worried farmers

Farmer Doug Rebout, president of the Wisconsin Soybean Association, is an invited guest of Democratic Representative Mark Pocan.

Many U.S. soybean producers worry Trump's tariffs on foreign goods have hurt American farmers, resulting in retaliation from China that has at times interrupted soybean trade and has contributed to higher prices for many consumer goods.

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U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and his guest, CEO of Paramount Skydance David Ellison arrive for U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

ICE detainee

Raiza Contreras, the mother of Dylan Lopez Contreras, a Venezuelan school student allegedly detained by immigration agents, will be another guest of Schumer. The Senate Democratic leader said Dylan entered the United States legally and was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after he attended a mandatory court hearing.

Senate Democrats Introduce Their State of the Union Guests at Press Conference
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U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) attends a press conference with other Senate Democrats on their guests for U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming State of the Union speech on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

Daughter of imprisoned China critic

Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned China critic and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, will be the joint guest of Johnson and Representative Chris Smith. Lai's 20-year imprisonment in a landmark foreign-collusion case has drawn criticism from the United States and other nations.

State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC
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Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned China critic and former media tycoon Jimmy Lai, sits in the gallery before U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

Brother of slain Israeli diplomat

Hanan Lischinsky, brother of slain Israeli diplomat Yaron Lischinsky, will be the guest of Johnson. Yaron and fellow diplomat Sara Milgrim were killed by a gunman last May while leaving an event at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

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U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D–CT) speaks next to his guest Fereshteh Ganjavi, an Afghan refugee and founder of Elena’s Light, during the "People's State of the Union" event ahead President Trump's State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026. (REUTERS)

Family of fallen Louisiana police officer

Relatives of slain Louisiana police officer Marc Tyler Brock are invited by Johnson, who represents a district in and around Shreveport. Brock was shot while serving a search warrant, according to local media reports. 

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