Advocate athletes, families of crime victims among Speaker Johnson’s SOTU guests

House Speaker Mike Johnson released his guest list for President Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday, showing a gap between their pictures of America.

Among the more than 20 guests that Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, plans to bring are conservative advocate athletes, family members of crime victims, and families of hostages taken by Hamas during the October attack on Israel.

“There will be a wide chasm between the picture of America President Biden attempts to paint tonight and the reality our country is facing,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement Thursday. “Three years of his administration’s failed policies have opened our borders, jeopardized our safety, reduced our standard of living, and weakened our standing on the world stage.”

Included on the speaker’s guest list are Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who slams biological men’s participation in women’s sports, and Enes Freedom, a former NBA player who is an outspoken critic of the Turkish and Chinese governments.

The family of Omer Neutra, an American serving in the Israeli Defense Forces who was captured by Hamas, also will attend.

Orna and Daniel Neutra, the mother and son of Mr. Neutra, will join Mr. Johnson, along with Mia Schem, a French-Israeli citizen who was kidnapped by Hamas at the Re’im music festival and held for 54 days before being released in December.

Kristina Gill, the wife of former Trump administration official Mike Gill who was killed in a carjacking in the District of Columbia, will also join Mr. Johnson.

Others on the speaker’s list underscore GOP priorities, such as securing the U.S.-Mexico border. The family member of a 20-year-old who was slain by MS-13 gang members, and a family member whose daughter died of fentanyl poisoning will be in attendance.

“I am honored to host these special guests and spotlight their personal stories,” Mr. Johnson said. “While America’s state of the union is sadly in decline, these individuals remind us of America’s greatness, even in the face of such challenging circumstances.”