Who Missed the State of the Union?

Adriana Stone 0 1 min read

Who Missed the State of the Union?

The Capitol was full. The guests were packed in. Cabinet members, lawmakers, generals, Supreme Court justices, veterans and even the U.S. Men’s hockey team filled the chamber for President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address.

One Cabinet member was not there. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins stayed away.

That wasn’t an accident. Collins was named the White House’s designated survivor. He spent the night at a secure, undisclosed location. The move kept the chain of command intact if the unthinkable happened.

Designated survivor is simple and serious. One person in the presidential line of succession sits out big gatherings. If a catastrophe wipes out leadership, someone remains to lead the executive branch. The practice dates back to the Cold War, when planners worried an attack could take out the Capitol.

Doug Collins isn’t new to this job. He served as designated survivor during President Donald Trump’s last joint session of Congress in March 2025. Putting him back in that role makes sense. He’s a Cabinet member with experience and a clear spot in succession.

The House Democrats picked their own designated survivor, Rep. Mike Thompson of California. That’s routine. It’s a separate step to protect congressional leadership in a crisis.

This is one of those quiet parts of government that most people never see. It’s not flashy. It is practical. It’s safety-first. And in a tense world, it’s something every administration should take seriously.

Expect more of the same at future addresses. Keep one person ready, away from the crowd. It’s small, easy, and smart.

For now, Secretary Collins stayed ready. The rest of the country got the speech. The continuity plan quietly did its job.

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