Washington Post: The stories behind the guests at Trump’s speech
By Annabelle Timsit and Leo Sands
As President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, the audience was filled not just with lawmakers but also guests — some of whom received shout-outs from Trump as he framed them as symbols of some of his policy priorities, including immigration enforcement and criminal justice. Others were invited by Democrats to underscore the threats they say Trump and Republicans pose on issues such as Medicaid and the federal workforce.
Taken together, their varied stories reflect the some of the biggest political and social causes Americans can expect to be debated over the next four years.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most notable guests.
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Frank Líma
Guest of: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California)
A longtime Los Angeles fire captain and union organizer, Líma served among the crews that battled the city’s devastating January fires. In a statement, Padilla argued that Los Angeles County needs a fully functional firefighting force and federal backing as it embarks on a long and painful road to recovery from the wildfires. Trump pledged to give “everything” to those efforts, but he has also floated attaching conditions to recovery funds. Residents have voiced fears that the Trump administration’s deep cuts to federal bureaucracy could hinder the recovery.
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