President Biden’s State of the Union address is scheduled for Thursday evening, with both houses of Congress in attendance.
The joint session of Congress includes members of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Vice President Kamala Harris and the Speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson, will be seated behind President Biden.
Additionally, the President’s cabinet and any Supreme Court justices who choose to attend will be present.
However, some lawmakers and guests have chosen not to attend Thursday’s address.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13) blasted the address as a ‘puppet show’ and hours of ‘spin and lying’ and has opted not to attend.
“The State of the Union has historically been a revered ceremony symbolizing bipartisan unity and our national resolve. However, given the findings of our investigations, I have been conducting along with other members of the House Oversight, I cannot in good conscience sit through hours of spin and lying to the American people. I refuse to be complicit in the charade orchestrated by the Biden administration,” said Luna.
“I will not pretend that this President is leading our country down a path of prosperity; from the disastrous handling of the southern border crisis, to the economic downturn caused by reckless spending and inflation, to now funding both sides of the war we are seeing in Israel. Make no mistake, the world is in turmoil because of President Biden. I will not be part of the puppet show,” concluded Luna.
Given recent events, it is anticipated that Biden will address international issues in his speech. The President has been vocal about his support for Ukraine and Israel, two key US allies.
With conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, Biden is likely to express his commitment to providing support and funding to these nations. The address may shed light on his administration’s stance regarding these ongoing international crises.
Read: VIDEO: U.S. 2nd Airdrop Of Aid To Gaza, Nearly 37,000 MRE
Biden’s approach to immigration reform and border security is another important aspect that is likely to be addressed in his State of the Union speech.
The President has faced criticism and challenges regarding immigration policies, particularly from Republican lawmakers.
One of those lawmakers wants to send a message to President Joe Biden about the growing risk of his open-border policies that are now feeding a rising wave of “migrant crime.”
On Wednesday, Georgia GOP Rep. Mike Collins posted on X that he had invited Laken Riley’s parents to Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday night.
Read: Former University Of Florida Football Star Tim Tebow Throws A Hail Mary To Congress For Kids
The family of the recently murdered 22-year-old nursing student, who was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant, declined.
“Understandably, they have chosen to stay home as they grieve the loss of their daughter,” Collins added.
“Therefore, the seat reserved for my guest will remain vacant to honor Laken and all American victims of illegal alien crime.”
“As Joe Biden attempts to paint a rosy picture of the crime-ridden country he has created,” Collins continued, “he will look up at an empty seat that memorializes those we’ve lost because of his open border policies.”
Collins this week also introduced the Laken Riley Act that seeks to expand the list of crimes for which illegals could be deported, if they are caught. The bill also would give states the authority to sue the federal government for “immigration policy-related failures” if their citizens are harmed by illegals.
“Laken’s tragic murder at the hands of an illegal immigrant was another wakeup call – Americans are experiencing an illegal alien crime wave because of Joe Biden’s open border and local sanctuary policies that shield foreign criminals from accountability and deportation,” Collins posted on X on Monday.
Read: Illegal Immigrant Charged In The Death Of Washington State Trooper Christopher M. Gadd
“While we can’t bring her back, we must now turn our focus to ensuring this doesn’t happen to any other American.”
Democrats in Congress and the liberal media have tried to defend both illegal immigrants and the president who created the tidal wave of what Democrats are now calling “newcomers” by arguing that illegals commit less crime than native Americans.
Lost on them, however, is the fact that those crimes would not have been committed at all if those illegals had been barred from entering the U.S. or deported as soon as they were discovered.
Meanwhile, WSB in Atlanta reported on Wednesday that Diego Ibarra, the murder suspect’s brother, who is also illegal and was busted for presenting a fake green card to authorities, is likely a member of a Venezuelan prison gang called Tren de Arugua.
Authorities determined that based on Diego Ibarra’s tattoos.
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