Trump Postpones the State of the Union Address. Blames Nancy Pelosi
As agitated Pelosi had suggested that Trump can deliver the address from his office, Trump responded with a refusal.
By Rakesh Raman
President Donald Trump has decided to postpone the State of the Union Address because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to invite Trump to the House from where the address is traditionally delivered.
Trump and Pelosi are at loggerheads with each other over the government shutdown issue. While Democratic leader Pelosi wants Trump and Republican top brass to reopen the government, Trump – who said he is responsible for the shutdown – is not ready to budge.
“As the shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the State of the Union Address (SOTU). I agreed. She then changed her mind because of the shutdown, suggesting a later date. This is her prerogative. I will do the address when the shutdown is over,” Trump stated in his tweet.
As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the State of the Union Address. I agreed. She then changed her mind because of the Shutdown, suggesting a later date. This is her prerogative – I will do the Address when the Shutdown is over. I am not looking for an….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2019
As agitated Pelosi had suggested that Trump can deliver the address from his office, Trump responded with a refusal. “I am not looking for an alternative venue for the SOTU Address because there is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition, and importance of the House Chamber,” Trump said.
The SOTU Address is an annual message delivered by the President to a joint session of U.S. Congress at the beginning of each calendar year in order to inform the Americans about the economic and other progress in the country.
In the letter sent to Trump on Wednesday, Speaker Pelosi wrote “I am writing to inform you that the House of Representatives will not consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President’s State of the Union address in the House Chamber until government has opened.”
This afternoon, I sent @realDonaldTrump a letter informing him that the House will not consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President’s State of the Union address in the House Chamber until government has opened. https://t.co/r1oad0xEAh pic.twitter.com/kGEbayx95u
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 23, 2019
Earlier, Speaker Pelosi had sent a letter to President Trump urging him to deliver a State of the Union Address to a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.
The House also had moved to force open the government which was shut down by Trump over his demand for a border wall to stop influx of people from other countries into America.
The government shutdown began on December 22, 2018. It became the longest shutdown in U.S. history on January 12, 2019 after surpassing the 21-day shutdown of 1995–1996.
By Rakesh Raman, who is a national award-winning journalist and social activist. He is the founder of a humanitarian organization RMN Foundation which is working in diverse areas to help the disadvantaged and distressed people in the society. He also creates and publishes a number of digital publications on different subjects.
