The Best Moment of the State of the Union Was Spontaneous and Bipartisan
There was no shortage of contentious moments and one-sided applause at President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, but there was one thing that everyone could agree on.
And it had to do with one of the president’s special guests for the occasion.
Among those Trump invited 63-year-old Alice Marie Johnson, who was in prison for 21 years for a non-violent drug offense.
The president also invited more controversial guests — the family of a couple who were slain in January in Reno, Nevada. An illegal alien has been charged in their deaths, according to the Reno Gazette Journal.
Trump also invited one guest, Judah Samet, whose story was inspirational no matter what party a listener belonged to.
Samet is a Holocaust survivor who narrowly avoided the deadly shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in October because he was late for the Sabbath service that day.
The 81-year-old survivor of the Nazi regime escaped a second tragedy by a mere four minutes.
“I was four minutes late. Instead of 9:45, I got there about 9:49, maybe 9:50,” Samet told The Washington Post in October.
Trump told part of Samet’s story on Tuesday.
“Tonight, we are also joined by Pittsburgh survivor Judah Samet. He arrived at the synagogue as the massacre began.
“But not only did Judah narrowly escape death last fall – more than seven decades ago, he narrowly survived the Nazi concentration camps,” Trump said.
Tuesday, Samet also happened to be marking a personal mileston.
“Today is Judah’s 81st birthday,” Trump said.
After recognizing Samet, the entire chamber joined together in a heartwarming moment to wish him a happy birthday.
As Trump smiled widely, members of both parties sang the traditional “Happy Birthday” song.
A united Happy Birthday chant for Pittsburgh attack survivor Judah Samet.
Both parties prove they actually can do something in unison. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/mvxMontrq4
— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) February 6, 2019
The chamber roared with applause as everyone honored the brave Holocaust survivor.
“Thank you!” Samet called out.
Jokingly, Trump said, “They wouldn’t do that for me, Judah” — a deadpan remark that drew laughs all around the chamber and no doubt around the country.
In fact, even voters who might not be supporting Trump had to appreciate the moment, and at least some Trump supporters thought that could pay off politically down the road.
But politics aside, it was a moment to remember from a State of the Union full of them.
There are a lot of divisions in America, so it’s great to see that both parties can come together and honor man who deserves it.
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