Pelosi to Trump: No State of the Union in the House During Government Shutdown

Pelosi to Trump: No State of the Union in the House During Government Shutdown

This morning, President Donald Trump sent Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi a letter to inform her that he will deliver the State of the Union (SOTU) on January 29.

Pelosi said that the SOTU will not happen in the House chambers as long as the government is closed.

No SOTU Tuesday, Pelosi says to Trump pic.twitter.com/XZzPNju6Ft

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 23, 2019

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.

Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened.”

I ask Pelosi if she is concerned about establishing a new precedent by perhaps not having a State of the Union speech:

Pelosi:
No. Not at all

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 23, 2019

REPORTER: Why not invite Trump to a joint session next Tuesday?

PELOSI: “Because government is closed.” pic.twitter.com/SyHSusrcqW

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 23, 2019

Trump said that Pelosi doesn’t want to hear the truth:

President Trump on Speaker Pelosi blocking the State of the Union: “The State of the Union speech has been cancelled by Nancy Pelosi because she doesn’t want to hear the truth. She doesn’t want the American public to hear what’s going on.” pic.twitter.com/Mdz5OHCUYL

— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) January 23, 2019

It’d be a waste of time if he showed up on January 29:

A reporter just asked Pelosi: What happens if Trump still shows up for SOTU on 1/29? Well, he’d have to speak outside. A reminder from @CSPAN: The House speaker “controls the video and audio from the House chamber. If the House is not in session, there’s no video feed to show.”

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 23, 2019

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