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President Donald Trump steps to the podium to begin his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 30, 2018. Behind Trump are Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
President Donald Trump steps to the podium to begin his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 30, 2018. Behind Trump are Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
USA

Live Blog: State of the Union

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President Donald Trump is delivering his first State of the Union address. His address is highlighting a strong economy and call for bipartisan action on immigration. The televised speech before a joint session of Congress comes a year after Trump took office and about a week after a three-day government shutdown spawned by a fight over the federal government budget and how to deal with hundreds of thousands of immigrants who years ago came to the country illegally as children.

WATCH: History of annual presidential speech

Explainer: State of the Union Address
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Presidents typically invite to the State of the Union address guests who highlight various policy priorities or who have been impacted by war. Tonight, President Donald Trump's guests include an African-American welder from Ohio who became a first-time homeowner in 2017, the parents of two teenage girls killed by MS-13 gang members, and the first blind double amputee to reenlist in the Marines.

Trump isn't the only one bringing guests to the State of the Union. Several Democratic lawmakers have invited immigrants, including some who are undocumented and face possible deportation. One Arizona congressman isn't OK with it, and has asked Capitol Police to consider checking the IDs of all attendees and "arresting any illegal aliens in attendance."

Democratic Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware adjusts her "RECY" button as she joins other House members in wearing black in support the metoo and timesup movement, ahead of tonight's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 30, 2018. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and members of the Democratic Caucus wore red pins in memoriam of Recy Taylor. Taylor was abducted and raped while walking home from work in Alabama in 1944.
Democratic Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware adjusts her "RECY" button as she joins other House members in wearing black in support the metoo and timesup movement, ahead of tonight's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 30, 2018. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and members of the Democratic Caucus wore red pins in memoriam of Recy Taylor. Taylor was abducted and raped while walking home from work in Alabama in 1944.

Other things to keep an eye on in the crowd: Many female Democratic lawmakers are wearing black to show support for the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment (at least 19 women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct; he denies the allegations). At least five Democratic lawmakers are boycotting the address.

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