Delaware
Who will be joining Coons, Blunt Rochester and McBride at Trump’s address to Congress
Demonstrators gather in Wilmington to protest Trump policies
Demonstrators gathered in Wilmington’s Rodney Square to protest policies by the Trump administration. 2/17/25
Delaware’s congressional delegation plans to make a statement with the three Delaware guests they’re bringing to President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday.
U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester and U.S. Congresswoman Sarah McBride have each invited a Delawarean impacted by recent jobs actions by Trump’s administration.
Here’s who they invited.
Who are the guests?
Coons will host Rory Badger of Seaford, a combat veteran and a former U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service employee who was recently fired by the Department of Government Efficiency.
“[Badger] is a Delawarean who served in combat overseas in the defense of the country he loves and then came home to continue serving his country in civilian life,” Coons said in a statement. “His thanks? An unceremonious and illegal firing by President Trump and an unelected billionaire.”
“I was unceremoniously dismissed from a job I’d worked hard for and was good at. This should have been handled with more care,” Badger said in a statement. “I’m proud to sit next to my senator from Delaware to lift the voices of those who received this kind of treatment. Our stories should be known.”
Blunt Rochester will be joined by Laura Wallace of Middletown.
Wallace, a former Office of Early Childhood Development employee, was fired following executive orders from Trump’s administration, according to the press release.
“I loved that job, but because this administration does not value our work, I will not have the opportunity to continue in that role and children and families in our country will be negatively impacted,” Wallace said in a statement.
Wallace appreciates the opportunity to let her story be heard.
“I hope others take notice that there are countless more people like me, trying to pick up the pieces for my family because of the recklessness of this administration,” Wallace said.
McBride’s guest is Nelson Hill, the current president of the labor union Delaware State AFL-CIO and UFCW Local 27.
“[Hill] represents tens of thousands of workers across Delaware in the private and public sector who have seen their jobs, pay, and rights undermined by this administration,” McBride said in a statement. “I’m proud that [Hill] will be coming down to Washington to stand with me against this administration’s ongoing effort to undermine Delaware worker’s rights in order to line the pockets of the uber wealthy.”
When is President Trump’s joint congressional address?
President Trump is scheduled to give his address on Mar. 4 at 9 p.m.
USA Today will be covering the live event. Viewers can watch it here.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact. You can reach her at omontes@delawareonline.com.