US President Joe Biden speaks on the state of the nation. However, a certain person will not be allowed to be in the parliament building.
The American president’s annual State of the Union address is also a security risk for the United States. Because in Congress, Joe Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris and the Speaker of Parliament are present at the same time – which is rarely the case.
If, as shown in the Netflix series “Designated Survivor” with Kiefer Sutherland, an attack was carried out on the parliament building and the members of the government were no longer able to act, a replacement would be needed. This “predetermined survivor” is most often a cabinet member. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona had to miss US President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address this year. The 48-year-old was not in the audience in the US Congress on Thursday evening (local time).
During the speech, this person is hidden in a secret location, heavily guarded by the Secret Service. If the president and deputy are killed during the speech, that person will automatically take over the reins of government.
The measure has roots in the Cold War
Last year, it was Labor Secretary Marty Walsh who was chosen to step in in an emergency. “I didn’t even know where I was being taken,” he said, describing his experience. “God bless you when something happens, but there’s a moment where you think about it,” he told the Washington Post.
The idea of designating a person for emergency use dates back to the Cold War era. According to the US magazine “Newsweek”, the nuclear threat gave rise to several scenarios as to how government business could continue in the event of an attack.
The “Designated Suvivor” was then chosen for the annual address, but also at the inauguration of new presidents and at joint meetings of the House of Representatives and Senate. This person will be moved to a safe, undisclosed location prior to the speech. She stays there until the end of the speech.
Not everyone is suitable for this: In order to be able to take over official duties if the worst comes to the worst, the person must be legally able to be President of the United States – for example, born in the USA. The minimum age is 35 years. In most cases, it is cabinet members who are assigned the special role, usually from the Ministry of Agriculture or the Interior.