After a week of back and forth, President Trump has conceded to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and will not deliver his 2019 State of the Union, originally slated for January 29, until the government shutdown is over.
Beginning with a letter from Speaker Pelosi on January 16, where she requested that Trump “determine another suitable date after the government has re-opened,” for the State of the Union and finally ending with a series of tweets from President Trump Wednesday evening where he said, “This is her prerogative – I will do the Address when the Shutdown is over,” the House Speaker and President engaged in a week-long war of words to get to this point.
Before eventually giving in to Pelosi’s request, President Trump abruptly cancelled an international trip the Speaker had planned as an act of revenge, then sent another letter early Wednesday suggesting he was still planning to deliver the address on January 29 in the House Chamber. Hours later, and without much of an explanation, Trump pulled out of the speech until further notice:
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
….alternative venue for the SOTU Address because there is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition and importance of the House Chamber. I look forward to giving a “great” State of the Union Address in the near future!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2019
President Trump is still expected to deliver a speech somewhere next week, but details are limited at this time.
