President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress is scheduled for Tuesday night, with guests invited by first lady Melania Trump set to attend. According to the White House, Melania Trump has extended invitations to “everyday Americans,” including an individual recently freed from a Russian prison as well as the family of one of Mr. Trump’s supporters who was killed in an assassination attempt against the president.
Among the attendees will be Marc Fogel, a Pennsylvania schoolteacher who was released from a Russian prison in February as part of a prisoner exchange facilitated by the Trump administration, along with his wife, Melanie Fogel.
The family of Corey Comperatore, a volunteer fire chief who lost his life at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally where Mr. Trump was shot in an assassination attempt, is also expected to be present, according to a statement from the White House.
Stephanie Diller, widow of the late New York Police Department officer Jonathan Diller, will also attend. Officer Diller was killed in 2024 during a routine traffic stop in Queens, and Mr. Trump attended his wake on Long Island in 2024.
The New York Post was the first to report on these guests.
What time is Trump’s speech and who else will be there?
Mr. Trump will address both chambers of Congress at 9 p.m. ET, marking his first speech before lawmakers since returning to the White House six weeks ago.
In attendance will be the mother and sister of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was tragically murdered by an individual in the country illegally. Last month, Mr. Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, a bipartisan measure that enhances the federal government’s ability to detain individuals illegally residing in the country.
Also present will be Alexis Nungaray, a Texas woman whose 12-year-old daughter was killed in 2024. Two Venezuelan nationals, charged in connection with her daughter’s murder, had been released by immigration authorities prior to the incident. Since her daughter’s death, Nungaray has appeared with Mr. Trump at various campaign events.
Immigration remains a central focus of Mr. Trump’s agenda, as his administration has initiated a significant deportation campaign—likely to be a major theme of the speech.
Another guest expected is 15-year-old Elliston Berry, who the White House reports was targeted by computer-generated deepfakes created by a school bully. On Monday, Melania Trump supported legislation led by Sen. Ted Cruz aimed at enhancing safety against deepfakes during an event on Capitol Hill.
January Littlejohn from Tallahassee, Florida, will also attend. Littlejohn has taken legal action against her daughter’s middle school for their inquiry regarding her daughter’s preferred bathroom, which the White House claims occurred without January and her husband’s knowledge or consent. Mr. Trump has previously signed an executive order limiting access to gender-affirming care for minors, although transgender youth have filed lawsuits to contest the order.
Payton McNabb, a North Carolina teenager who reported injuries following a volleyball game collision with a transgender athlete, will also be a guest. Mr. Trump has enacted an executive order prohibiting transgender women from competing in women’s sports—McNabb was recently invited by the White House to join a briefing focused on women’s sports.
Other attendees include Jeff Denard, a steelworker from Decatur, Alabama; Haley Ferguson, a Tennessee resident awarded a scholarship through the first lady’s Be Best initiative; and Roberto Ortiz, a Texas Border Patrol agent who the White House stated
has faced gunfire from cartel members.
Several Democrats indicated on Monday that they would bring dismissed federal workers to the address instead of participating in a boycott, as some have suggested.
How to watch Trump’s speech
CBS News will broadcast the address live on television, with a primetime special airing at 9 p.m. ET.
