MAGA has called her a villain, a witch, and ‘dangerous,’ and now she’s been picked to deliver the State of the Union rebuttal

Democrats have chosen Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger to deliver the rebuttal to President Donald Trump‘s State of the Union speech. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries hand-picked her for the role, stating that Governor Spanberger “stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump, who will lie, deflect and blame everyone but himself for his failed presidency on Tuesday evening.”

According to The Daily Beast, Spanberger has been a frequent target of criticism from MAGA supporters since she took office. They have labeled her a “villain,” a “witch,” and “one of the most dangerous people in our society.” MAGA activist Laura Loomer called her “one of the most dangerous people in our society,” while Harmeet K. Dhillon described her as a “bond villain.” 

Despite the backlash, Spanberger’s agenda as governor is in line with the positions she held during her three terms in the House of Representatives. She won the gubernatorial election last year by more than 15 percentage points, which is over 520,000 votes, defeating former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Even the Virginia GOP had privately doubted Earle-Sears’ chances, as she reportedly struggled in interviews and President Trump did not endorse her.

Delivering the State of the Union rebuttal can be a major career springboard

Governor Spanberger commented on the moment in a statement, saying, “We are at a defining moment in our nation’s history. Virginians and Americans across the country are contending with rising costs, chaos in their communities, and a real fear of what each day might bring.” 

She added that she looks forward to “laying out what these Americans expect and deserve, leaders who are working hard to deliver for them.” This comes at a time when MAGA’s influence continues to grow beyond American borders, with reports of a US State Department plan to reshape Europe in MAGA’s image raising serious concerns internationally.

While the content of rebuttal speeches often fades from memory, they can significantly raise a politician’s national profile. Four former presidents – Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden – all delivered these speeches before eventually reaching the White House.

Not all rebuttals are remembered positively, though. Alabama Senator Katie Britt’s 2024 rebuttal was privately called “one of our biggest disasters” by some Republicans. Marco Rubio’s 2013 rebuttal is mostly remembered for an awkward moment when he leaned out of frame to take a sip of water, rather than anything he actually said.

The intensity of political divisions around Trump and MAGA has also had real-world consequences at home. In one alarming case, a Texas man shot his daughter during a Trump argument, highlighting just how deeply these tensions have cut into everyday life. In addition to Spanberger’s speech, California Senator Alex Padilla will deliver the rebuttal in Spanish.