WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to President Donald Trump on Wednesday he will not be able to give the State of the Union in the House chamber while the government is still shut down.
The current partial government shutdown still has no end in sight and is the longest in American history.
“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,” Pelosi said in the letter, sent Wednesday afternoon.
Her letter comes in response to one sent earlier the same day from the White House, notifying Pelosi the president still planned on giving his speech on Tuesday, January 29 from the House chamber.
Citing security concerns because of the government shutdown, Pelosi wrote to Trump last week requesting that he delay the address or submit it in writing, but Trump did not acquiesce to the request.
“It would be so very sad for our Country if the State of the Union were not delivered on time, on schedule, and, very importantly, on location!” Trump wrote in his letter Wednesday.
