If Disaster Strikes Amid Speech, Sonny's in Charge

Agriculture secretary Perdue is this year's 'designated survivor' for SOTU
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 30, 2018 7:45 PM CST
If Disaster Strikes Amid Speech, Sonny's in Charge
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.   (Bob Andres/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

As the last i's are being dotted on President Trump's State of the Union address, one traditional formality has been announced: Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is this year's "designated survivor." That means if disaster strikes during the speech, wiping out the entire presidential line of succession, the 71-year-old will be in charge of the country, reports USA Today. Perdue is expected to be hanging out with Secret Service agents at a secure location until the event is over, per Fox News. (More State of the Union address stories.)

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