President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump Announce State Visit with Spain

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will welcome Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain to the White House on April 21, 2020, for a state visit to the United States. The visit will celebrate our two countries’ close friendship and shared history, and reaffirm our commitments to stand together to address today’s global challenges.

Statement from the Press Secretary Announcing President Donald J. Trump’s Upcoming Travel to India

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will visit India on February 24 – 25, 2020. The President and The First Lady will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad, which is in Prime Minister Modi’s home state of Gujarat and played such an important role in Mahatma Gandhi’s life and leadership of the Indian independence movement. During a phone call over the weekend, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi agreed the trip will further strengthen the United States-India strategic partnership and highlight the strong and enduring bonds between the American and Indian people.

Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the Visit of His Excellency Lenin Moreno Garcés, President of the Republic of Ecuador

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will welcome President Lenin Moreno Garcés and First Lady Rocio González de Moreno of the Republic of Ecuador to the White House on February 12, 2020.  This visit is an opportunity to expand the new and positive bilateral relationship that the United States has built with Ecuador.  We look forward to discussing ways to strengthen our ties with Ecuador to foster democracy and prosperity in the Western Hemisphere.

Rush Limbaugh receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

Rush Limbaugh received the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the 2020
State of the Union, just a day after the conservative radio host
announced that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

During his
address, President Donald Trump described Limbaugh as "a special man,
someone beloved by millions of Americans," and called him "the greatest
fighter and winner that you will ever meet."

Trump continued:
"Rush, in recognition of all that you have done for our nation, the
millions of people a day that you speak to and inspire, and all of the
incredible work that you have done for charity, I am proud to announce
tonight that you will be receiving our country's highest civilian honor,
the Presidential Medal of Freedom."

First lady Melania Trump then presented Limbaugh with the medal as those seated nearby gave a standing ovation.

The
White House announced the award, the highest civilian honor in the
nation, in an earlier news release detailing invited guests of the
president and first lady. In it, they described Limbaugh as "a champion
of the Constitution, advocate of civic engagement and a committed
patriot."

Limbaugh
was seated next to the first lady in the congressional gallery for
Tuesday's speech. He has been a steadfast supporter of President Trump
and his policies over the years.

Limbaugh announced on his nationally televised radio program on Monday that he is battling advanced lung cancer.

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump Announce Special Guests for the State of the Union Address

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are pleased to announce that the following individuals will be their special guests for the President’s third State of the Union address:
 

Tony Rankins from Cincinnati, Ohio:  After serving in the United States Army in Afghanistan, Tony Rankins suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and became addicted to drugs.  He lost his job and his family, served several prison sentences, and ended up living out of his car.  A company called “R Investments” helped train Tony in carpentry, painting, brick work, and other construction trades.  Today, he works in an Opportunity Zone in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his new job has helped him overcome drug addiction and reunite with his family.

Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz from Del Rio, Texas:  Deputy Chief Ortiz has helped protect America’s homeland for nearly three decades.  Prior to joining U.S. Border Patrol in 1991, Ortiz served in the United States Army.  In 2019, he became Chief Patrol Agent of the Del Rio Sector, which made him responsible for all Border Patrol operations in 41 Texas counties—including 210 miles of border between the United States and Mexico.  Recently, Ortiz was promoted to Deputy Chief of U.S. Border Patrol, the second in command for more than 20,000 agents and professional staff. His awards include the Superior Civilian Service Medal, among the Department of Defense’s highest civilian honors.

Jody Jones from Farmersville, California:  On December 17, 2018, Jody’s brother, Rocky Jones, was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant in Tulare County, California.  The criminal alien who committed this brutal murder had previously been arrested for violent crimes and had been deported twice.  The criminal alien was arrested in December 2018 for the sixth time, but because of California’s sanctuary state policy, he was released from jail.  A few days later, the criminal alien went on a 24-hour “reign of terror,” injuring several people, robbing a gas station, leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase, and killing 51-year old Rocky, who was known as a kind and gentle soul.  Rocky leaves behind a precious daughter and 4 brothers who are still grieving the loss of their loved one.

Ellie and Robin Schneider from Kansas City, Missouri:  Ellie was born at just 21 weeks and six days.  She is one of the youngest babies to survive in the United States.  With the help of an incredible medical team – and the prayers of her parents and their community -- Ellie kept beating the odds, exceeding milestones, and fighting for life.  Today, Ellie is a happy, healthy two-year-old girl who brings endless joy to her mother, Robin, and her entire family.

Janiyah and Stephanie Davis from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:  Janiyah is a fourth grade student from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She loves art and math, but for too long she has been assigned to low-performing schools.  Her mom, Stephanie, is a hard working single mother who is hoping for the expansion of school choice to be able to send Janiyah to a school that best serves her needs.  
 
Kelli and Gage Hake from Stillwater, Oklahoma:  Kelli Hake was at home with her one-year-old son, Gage, when she received the terrible news that her that her husband, Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, had been killed serving on his second tour of duty in Iraq.  While on patrol, Sergeant Hake’s Bradley fighting vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb supplied by the Iranian terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani.  Kelli and Gage directly suffered from Soleimani’s campaign to kill and maim U.S. service members.  Last month, President Donald J. Trump ordered the killing of Soleimani as he was once again trying to initiate attacks on American service members.

Paul Morrow from Montgomery, Alabama: Paul is a United States Army veteran. After leaving the military, Morrow started a successful contracting business and today is building a new concrete plant in an Opportunity Zone in Montgomery, Alabama. This new plant will help support several brand new F-35 jets that are stationed in the region.

Ivan Simonovis from Caracas, Venezuela:  Ivan was the Chief of Police in Venezuela’s capitol city and esteemed as the nation’s top cop.  He was imprisoned in 2004 for protecting protesters and was held in captivity for nearly 15 years by the Chavez and Maduro regimes.  He escaped from Venezuela in 2019 and was brought to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where immigration agents welcomed him to the United States.