AUGUSTA, Maine — A farmer, police officer and attorney are going to President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress as the guests of Maine’s congressional delegation.
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree’s guest has clear political significance in that he is a Maine farmer affected by Trump’s federal funding freeze hitting U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, while U.S. Rep. Jared Golden and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins did not seek to make deeper statements with their guests.
Trump’s Tuesday night speech is referred to as a joint address to Congress, though it has the feel of a State of the Union speech. While past presidents have reflected on the events of the past year and outlined policy priorities for the coming one, Trump has shunned norms.
He is expected to discuss his aggressive domestic and foreign policy agenda, such as his pausing of Ukraine aid and his 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico that took effect Tuesday and have already resulted in retaliatory measures that could raise prices for consumers.
Collins, the lone Republican in Maine’s delegation who joined Pingree and U.S. Sen. Angus King in asking Trump to avoid a trade war over the tariffs, is bringing Portland attorney Ann Robinson to Tuesday night’s speech. Robinson is chairing an advisory committee Collins established to evaluate applicants for federal positions in Maine that require Senate approval.
Pingree, the 1st District Democrat, is bringing Seth Kroeck, who manages Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick. Kroeck said he has been hurt by Trump freezing billions of federal dollars tied to agriculture programs, with the White House saying last month it was starting to unfreeze an initial amount of money after reviewing former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
Kroeck said he cannot access nearly $90,000 from two grants he received for conservation enhancements for his vegetable fields and wild blueberries. He said in a news release from Pingree’s office that he represents “the face of all farmers affected by the heavy-handed policies of President Trump and his appointees.”
Golden, a 2nd District Democrat who supports Trump’s tariffs, is bringing retired Lewiston police corporal and fellow Marine veteran Jeffrey Baril to Tuesday night’s speech. Golden said Baril had responded to violent crime and inspected abandoned apartment buildings to help prevent fires over his career with Lewiston’s police department and code enforcement office.
“Public service like that provided by Cpl. Baril transcends partisanship and politics,” Golden said in a news release.
King’s office said the independent who caucuses with Democrats is attending the speech but not bringing a guest.
