Virginia teen Sage Blair makes headlines as one of President Donald Trump’s special guests at the 2026 Olympics state of the union address (SOTU) address. The invitation comes as Blair and her mother, Michelle Blair, continue to deal with a high-profile legal case involving allegations that school officials made decisions affecting Sage without notifying parents.
Her presence raised eyebrows during debates about parent rights and school policies.
Social media and political circles amplified the news, with the White House retweeting the story.
Trump’s SOTU guest list also included other figures associated with conservative causes, including Erica KirkWidow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Also read: Melania, Barron, Eric, Ivanka, Tiffany: Trump family members attend SOTU after photos exposed
Who is Sage Blair?
Blair, from virginiaembroiled in a legal case alleging school officials took action regarding her gender identity and welfare without notifying her parents.
Court documents from 2023 show that Blair, then 14, told a school counselor that she wanted to be called by her male name and pronouns, and the counselor allowed the change to be made at school without notifying her mother.
The plaintiff’s attorney claimed that the counselor “failed to inform Mrs. Blair and agreed to use male names and pronouns at school in order to deceive Mrs. Blair about SB’s treatment at the school.”
The family alleges that after these incidents, Blair ran away and suffered abuse, including being kidnapped and trafficked across state lines.
The school counselor’s legal team denies any alleged misconduct that contributed to Blair’s experience, saying she had no constitutional obligation to inform parents of their child’s gender identity.
Blair’s story has received support from advocacy groups. Vinadette Broyles, president and general counsel of the Campaign for Children and Parental Rights, praised Blair and her mother on social media, calling them “brave” and noting the latest developments in their Title IX claims. The Heritage Foundation also commented on the need to provide federal protections for children in similar situations.
