Most of President Trump’s Cabinet members were present at the House for the State of the Union address on Tuesday night, except for one.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins, was designated as the survivor chosen to remain in a secure location, following standard government continuity protocols. This tradition ensures that one Cabinet member stays away during significant Congressional sessions in case of emergencies.
Interestingly, Collins had also been selected as a designated survivor during Trump’s joint address to Congress in March 2025.
Other Cabinet members who have been named designated survivors by President Trump in previous years include:
- David Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 2017
- Sonny Perdue, Secretary of Agriculture, in 2018
- Rick Perry, Energy Secretary, in 2019
- David Barnhart, Secretary of the Interior, in 2020
The practice of appointing a designated survivor dates back to the 1950s, during the Cold War. These individuals are intended to act as “doomsday presidents” to ensure government operations can continue in the event of a disaster. Although this role is precautionary, it has never been historically necessary for a designated survivor to take on the presidency after a State of the Union address.
For the Democrats, Congressman Mike Thompson from California was designated as their survivor for this event.
In his own words, Thompson noted on Twitter, “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.” He expressed concerns about the actions of ICE and their impact on communities.
The criteria for being a designated survivor include being a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident for a minimum of 14 years. All of Trump’s Cabinet members meet these requirements.
