News

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Says Being State Of The Union ‘Designated Survivor’ Was ‘Boring’

Every year, as the President addresses a joint session of Congress about the state of the union, one member of the Cabinet is stowed away in a secret location as the “designated survivor” in the event that something goes horribly wrong. For President Joe Biden‘s State of the Union address on Tuesday, it was Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Last year, there was no designated survivor because the President gave his address to a limited audience due to COVID-19 precautions. The designated survivor is also utilized in other events where the President and Congress are gathered in one place, like presidential inaugurations.

Raimondo, who is the former governor of Rhode Island, became a member of Biden’s Cabinet in March 2021. She leads the department working to create more jobs and boost the economy. She has also worked on major segments of President Biden’s Build Back Better Act.

“It was quite uneventful actually, thankfully,” Raimondo told reporters of her time as the designated survivor on Wednesday. “I was out of Washington D.C., but doing my work like any other day.”

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

The tradition came from the Cold War era as fears of a nuclear attack loomed.

Raimondo’s position would normally put her at tenth in line to be President, according to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947.

Rose Carter

Recent Posts

Trump Places ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs On Several Uninhabited Islands Whose Only Residents Are Penguins

President Donald Trump placed tariffs on almost 90% of nations, including some uninhabited areas, during…

5 hours ago

VIDEO: Trump Announces Huge Tariffs On All Imports – Economists Say It Will Lead To A Recession

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/t4Yuj5JQkT8 Supporters of President Donald Trump cheered as he unveiled a sweeping set of tariffs…

11 hours ago

Elon Musk Set To Leave Trump Administration After Wisconsin Election Disaster

Controversial tech billionaire Elon Musk will leave the Trump Administration in the next month, President…

15 hours ago

VIDEO: Sen. Cory Booker Breaks Record For Longest-Ever Senate Speech Protesting Trump Policies

https://youtu.be/ZLOWOkWhEag Sen. Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) held the Senate floor with a historic speech that…

1 day ago

Democratic-Backed Judge Susan Crawford Wins Seat On Wisconsin Supreme Court In Major Rebuke Of Elon Musk

Democratic-backed Judge Susan Crawford won a seat in the Wisconsin Supreme Court after beating Republican-backed…

2 days ago

Trump Claimed He Hadn’t Read Project 2025 During Campaign, But His Executive Actions Align Closely With Its Proposals

President Donald Trump surprised his administration last week by proposing that the country's primary disaster…

2 days ago