WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is giving an address to Congress on Tuesday night, and several Minnesotans are there as guests of congressional lawmakers.
President Trump is scheduled to speak to a joint session of Congress on March 4, where he is expected to highlight some of his administration’s accomplishments and outline legislative priorities.
Some Minnesota congressional members, including U.S. Sen. Tina Smith and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, have announced who they will be bringing to the address. Here are some of the attendees.
Sen. Tina Smith and guest Kate Severson
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) is bringing Kate Severson, a former Park Ranger at Voyageurs National Park who was recently affected by the mass firing of probationary federal employees, including more than 1,000 national park service personnel.
Severson previously worked as a park ranger in Texas and Colorado before moving to Minnesota to become the program manager of Voyageurs National Park’s education and visitor services.
“Park Rangers like Kate work tirelessly to keep us safe in some of Minnesota’s most wild and extreme areas, including Voyageurs National Park,” Sen. Smith said in an email. “Elon Musk fired thousands of federal workers who play critical roles in keeping our communities safe, including Kate, all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations.
The story of Kate and Voyageurs National Park represents absolute chaos for Americans since Donald Trump took office: he unilaterally appointed Elon Musk to one of the most powerful positions in the government with no oversight. I’m glad she has the opportunity to share her story, and I’m grateful to have her with me at this Address to Congress.”
Rep. Tom Emmer and his guests
Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) will be joined by three guests at the address: Minnesota Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth and 1980 Olympic hockey gold medalists Buzz Schneider and Rob McClanahan.
“Whether through leadership in our state or unforgettable contributions to one of the most iconic moments in sports history, these individuals represent the best of Minnesota and the American spirit,” Emmer told reporters.
Demuth was recently elected speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, where he has served since 2019.
Demuth said in a statement about her upcoming attendance, “This is an important opportunity to hear directly from the President and represent the voices of Minnesotans who want a government that is accountable, fiscally responsible, and focused on real solutions. I’m looking forward to hearing his future plans.
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s guest
Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) will be accompanied by Christopher Wicker to the address. Wicker worked as Deputy District Director for the Small Business Administration in Minneapolis until February 2025, when he was fired by the Trump administration, according to a news release from Omar. He also served in the Air Force, with several deployments to Afghanistan.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s guest
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) has invited Gary Wertish, a third-generation farmer from Renville County, to Trump’s speech. Wertish is also President of the Minnesota Farmers Union.
“Gary represents so many family farmers and other Minnesotans who are worried about making ends meet because of the Administration’s proposed tariffs, funding freezes, and mass layoffs,” the senator said in a statement. “He will be a voice for all Minnesota farmers at the President’s Joint Address.”
