Mark Esper should be designated survivor

Published February 4, 2020 9:47pm ET



When President Trump delivers his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday evening, he will be at the center of the Secret Service’s protective envelope.

But as is the norm, the Trump administration will designate a Cabinet official to assume the office of president if a catastrophe strikes the Capitol, known as the “designated survivor.” That individual will take over as president should Trump and those in the interceding order of presidential succession be wiped out. But who should Trump nominate?

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