Bullied Trump boy for State of Union

When Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union, his guests will include Joshua Trump. A boy bullied because of his name.

Donald Trump's guests for his State of the Union will include Joshua Trump. The sixth grader isn’t a member of the president’s family, but has been bullied in school as a result of his last name.

When Donald Trump delivers his second State of the Union speech to congress today, one of his 13 guests will be Joshua Trump, a sixth grader passionate about science and ­animals. The youngster isn’t a member of the President’s family, but a boy from Wilmington, Delaware, who has been bullied in school as a result of his last name.

“He appreciates science, art, and history,” the White House said yesterday. “He also loves animals and hopes to pursue a related career in the future.”

It added that young Trump’s hero and best friend is his Uncle Cody, a member of the US Air Force.

“Unfortunately, Joshua has been bullied in school due to his last name. He is thankful to the first lady and the Trump family for their support,” it said.

Bullying prevention is a key element of an initiative Mrs Trump named “Be Best”.

Donald and Melania Trump, and the 535 members of congress, are permitted to invite guests to the annual speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, a key fixture in the political calendar in which presidents tout successes and outline goals.

The first couple’s other guests include the daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Gerald and Sharon David, who were killed last month in their Reno, Nevada, home by an illegal immigrant.

Among those joining the David’s family will be Judah Samet, who survived the Holocaust and the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that killed 11 people last October. As will SWAT team member Timothy Matson, who was shot multiple times while responding to the massacre.

Another guest will be Matthew Charles, a former drug dealer who turned his life around in prison and was the first person released under a criminal justice reform law passed in December.

Joining him will be Alice Marie Johnson, 63, who served more than two decades of a life sentence without parole for drug dealing before Mr Trump commuted her sentence last year. Her case had been championed by reality TV star Kim Kardashian West, who lobbied Mr Trump.

Mr Trump will deliver the annual address a week later than planned as the President and house Speaker Nancy Pelosi sparred over funding for a wall along the US-Mexico border, leading to the longest-ever shutdown of the US government.

The White House is flagging an “optimistic”, “unifying”, even “visionary” speech to mark this presidency’s midway point. In an excerpt released last week, Mr Trump predicts Republicans and Democrats can “break decades of political stalemate”.

AFP, DPA, AP