Trump says he will give State of the Union ‘when the Shutdown is over’

By: Mary C.

President Trump said Wednesday night that he will not deliver a State of the Union address during the government shutdown — hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi canceled the annual speech in the Capitol’s House chamber.

“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,” Trump wrote in a tweet a little after 11 p.m.

“I will do the Address when the Shutdown is over. 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,” he added.

Pelosi responded to him on Twitter a short time later, writing: “Mr. President, I hope by saying ‘near future’ you mean you will support the House-passed package to #EndTheShutdown that the Senate will vote on tomorrow. Please accept this proposal so we can re-open government, repay our federal workers and then negotiate our differences.”

Trump’s decision ended a back and forth between him and Pelosi, who earlier on Wednesday said she would not bring a resolution to formally invite the president to a vote in the House.

Both chambers of Congress have to vote on resolutions to formally invite the president to deliver a State of the Union address.

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