House

Kennedy offers State of the Union advice to Abrams: ‘Misplace your chapstick’

Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) on Tuesday offered former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams advice for when she is due to present the Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address next week.

Kennedy, who gave the response last year, tweeted out some tips as Abrams prepares for her rebuttal.

{mosads}His tips included “be yourself,” “be the fighter we know you are,” and “keep snacks handy” because the president will talk longer than expected.

The Massachusetts Democrat also included a line telling her to “misplace” her chapstick, a reference to the mocking he received on social media last year about his shiny lips when delivering the response to the State of the Union speech, which he later blamed on lip balm.

Kennedy ended his advice by wishing Abrams good luck, telling her that “millions of Americans” were standing with her.

Democratic leadership announced on Tuesday that Abrams has been selected to refute Trump’s speech.

She previously served as the Democratic leader of the Georgia General Assembly before she narrowly lost her November bid against Republican Brian Kemp for governor in a hotly contested election.

Trump’s annual State of the Union address has been rescheduled for Feb. 5 after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) canceled the previous address during the partial government shutdown that ended last Friday.