‘Doomsday president’: Who is Donald Trump's 'designated survivor' Mike Thompson, kept away from State of the Union?
Times of India
by TOI WORLD DESKFebruary 25, 2026
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The State of the Union address by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday night was notably absent a senior official: California’s 4th District Congressman Mike Thompson, who was designated as the “designated survivor.” This role, a long-standing security measure, ensures continuity of government in case of a catastrophic event. While not present at the Capitol, Thompson, like others before him, could potentially assume the presidency if such an incident occurred.
The practice of designating a survivor dates back to the Cold War era, when concerns about nuclear attacks led to plans for presidential succession. The process is informal but requires the individual to meet constitutional eligibility: they must be a natural-born U.S. citizen and at least 35 years old. Historically, this role has been determined by the president or their chief of staff, with no formal protocol in place.
The origins of the designated survivor concept can be traced back to April 1980, when the White House Military Office directed FEMA to plan for presidential succession, including identifying which officials should be absent during key events like the State of the Union. This practice became more publicized after Education Secretary Terrel Bell was revealed as the first designated survivor during a presidential address in 1981.
Today, while the role remains largely behind-the-scenes, it highlights the importance of preparedness for large-scale attacks or disasters. For instance, a military helicopter involved in a collision near Reagan National Airport in January 2025 was on a continuity-of-government training mission, underscoring
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/25/2026