Congressman Mike Thompson Named Designated Survivor for SOTU
California Representative Mike Thompson has been appointed by House Democrats as the designated survivor for President Donald Trump’s upcoming State of the Union Address (SOTU).
On Monday, Thompson shared that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has arranged for him to watch the president’s speech from a secure and private location, away from the Capitol building.
The role of designated survivor is assigned to senior officials in the U.S. government and aims to keep them safe during significant public events that gather many key members of the presidential succession line, like SOTU speeches and presidential inaugurations. This measure is intended to maintain government continuity in extreme situations like disasters or attacks that could potentially harm the president and others in the line of succession.
“I’ve been chosen to be the designated survivor for tomorrow’s State of the Union address, so I won’t be attending in person, but I’ll be watching. Americans must be held accountable for militarizing ICE, terrorizing our communities, and killing American citizens,” Thompson tweeted.
While he won’t be present at the event, Thompson will be joined by Bernie Narvaez, a Marine Corps veteran, small business owner, and City Council member from Napa, California.
“Bernie is a shining example of what it means to be a public servant and live the American dream,” Thompson remarked, expressing his pride in Narvaez’s appearance. “He knows the importance of standing up for our country and lowering costs for our hard-working people.”
Thompson isn’t the only designated survivor; the system also includes two senators and two representatives from both parties. Additionally, a designated survivor will be chosen from the Cabinet, but the name won’t be disclosed until after the speech begins.
In the rare event of a significant catastrophe, a Cabinet member could assume the presidency. The tradition of having a designated survivor began in the 1950s during the Cold War era. Though the concept is a precaution, it has never been utilized in U.S. history, and there has been no instance of a designated survivor stepping in as president following a SOTU.
For context, during President Trump’s speech to Congress in 2025, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins served as the designated survivor.
