The Secret Protocol Behind Trump's State of the Union 'Designated Survivor'

When President Trump delivers his State of the Union address, one cabinet member will be notably absent - not by choice, but by design. This official, known as the "designated survivor," will be sequestered in an undisclosed location with presidential-level security, ready to assume the presidency if disaster strikes.

This Cold War-era protocol, formalized in the 1950s during heightened nuclear tensions, ensures that the United States government can continue functioning even if a catastrophic event eliminates the president, vice president, and congressional leadership gathered for the annual address.

The selection process remains confidential until shortly before the event. The chosen official must be eligible to serve as president - meaning they must be a natural-born citizen over 35 years old - and typically comes from the cabinet, though not always the highest-ranking member. In recent years, the designated survivor has often been a relatively lower-profile cabinet secretary, reducing the political impact of their absence.

During the address, this official is taken to a secure, undisclosed facility equipped with communications equipment and security details matching those afforded to the president. They remain under guard until the conclusion of the event, when it becomes clear that the line of succession remains intact.

The tradition gained renewed public attention through the ABC television series "Designated Survivor," which dramatized a cabinet member suddenly becoming president after an attack on the Capitol. While the show took dramatic liberties, it highlighted a real constitutional safeguard that most Americans know little about.

Beyond the State of the Union, similar protocols exist for other events where the entire presidential line of succession might be in one location, such as presidential inaugurations and major international summits held in Washington.

The designated survivor tradition represents a unique intersection of constitutional law, national security, and political theater - a behind-the-scenes precaution that ensures even in our worst-case scenarios, the American government has a path forward.