'I will not be afraid': Abigail Spanberger readies sharp response to Trump’s SOTU address

WASHINGTON, DC: Prior to delivering the official response to the State of the Union, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger stated that she will not “be in fear of a president who says things that are anything from outright lies to twistings of the truth.”

The 46-year-old governor, a former CIA officer and the first woman to lead Virginia, was chosen by Democratic leadership to deliver the high-stakes response to President Trump’s address on Tuesday, February 24.

Virginia governor defies Trump backlash fears

Before the speech, Governor Abigail Spanberger was asked whether her criticism could harm Virginia’s relationship with the federal government. Republican Senator Sturtevant said he was concerned that an aggressive approach toward the president could result in negative consequences for the state.

Spanberger rejected the idea that she should remain silent to avoid such treatment.

“Well, I think it’s unfortunate that anyone would have a relatively reasonable fear of a punitive president punishing…a state or a community because someone called out what might be lies or things they say that are untrue,” she said.

While she acknowledged the senator’s concerns about potential backlash, she remained firm, stating, “The fact that Senator Sturtevant said that there could be potentially ramifications of me speaking truth about the president’s speech, I don’t think he’s potentially wrong, but I will not be afraid.”

The governor warned that it is dangerous for citizens and leaders to accept a "punitive" presidency as normal. “I think it’s actually deeply problematic that we’ve come to a place where we accept that we should be in fear of a president who says things that are…anything from outright lies to twisting of the truth,” she explained.

She added that she hopes the people of Virginia feel the same resolve, saying, “I would hope that the people of Virginia are not afraid of a president who would punish the people of Virginia because their governor disagrees with the president.”

Abigail Spanberger invokes 1776 independence legacy

Spanberger is slated to deliver her address from Colonial Williamsburg. She chose the historic site because it is where Virginia leaders proposed independence in 1776.

Her team said the location highlights the state’s deep history of fighting for rights and independence, which she plans to contrast with what she calls the “chaos” of the current administration. 

The speech presents a major challenge for the governor. She must not only respond to a president known for going off-script but also serve as a voice for a Democratic Party that is struggling to define itself.

Known as a “starry-eyed pragmatist,” she is expected to focus on affordability, highlight growing public resistance to the current administration and, drawing on her CIA experience, argue that its policies are creating dangerous global instability.