WASHINGTON — After Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a letter told President Donald Trump the House won't OK a measure to give him the House floor until the government reopens, Trump has fired back, saying he'll hold an "alternative event."
- Trump tells Pelosi that State of the Union will go on as scheduled
- Pelosi responds, says House won't OK resolution authorizing address
- Pelosi had asked to delay it, citing security concerns from shutdown
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Trump at the White House Wednesday said the cancellation was a "disgrace." He did not detail his next move, saying, "We will be announcing what we're doing.''
The president sent his initial letter to Pelosi Wednesday morning, stating he would proceed with the State of the Union address. By the afternoon, Pelosi responded with a letter of her own.
"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 wrote.
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"Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened," she said.
In his letter to Pelosi, Trump said, "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!" he said.
Trump said Democrats have become "radicalized" and "don't want to see crime stopped, which we could very easily do on the southern border."
Pelosi last week called on Trump to delay the annual presidential address to Congress, citing security concerns caused by the partial government shutdown. She said workers at the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service were either working without pay or being furloughed.
The impasse between Congress and the president has resulted in the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history.
The president is not required to present the address in person to Congress. Prior to President Woodrow Wilson, the address was delivered in writing.