WASHINGTON – In the latest salvo over the State of the Union, President Donald Trump told Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday he would show up and deliver the speech as scheduled on Tuesday, despite her objections about security and the government shutdown.
“There are no security concerns regarding the State of the Union address,” Trump wrote in a letter to Pelosi. “Therefore, I will be honoring your invitation and fulfilling my constitutional duty to deliver important information to the people and Congress.”
It remained unclear, however, whether Pelosi would allow the speech to go on – the House, controlled by Democrats, must pass a resolution formally inviting the president to the chamber.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters on Wednesday that the House could pass the resolution on the same day as the speech. The U.S. Capitol Police will be prepared, he said.
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Last month, Pelosi invited Trump to give the annual address on Jan. 29. But last week, she suggested that Trump postpone, cancel or submit the address in writing because of the ongoing partial government shutdown, though she had not formally rescinded the invitation.
The White House said it was moving forward with speech plans anyway, and is looking at alternatives in case Pelosi formally cancels her invitation.
“The president will talk to the American people on January 29th as he does nearly every single day,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Fox News Wednesday. “And we’re going to continue moving forward with the State of the Union and we’ll see what happens.”
While planning to speak in the House chamber – the administration has requested a formal walk-through before the ceremony – Trump and aides have explored alternative venues, including cities around the country.
Republican officials in Michigan and North Carolina have invited Trump to give his speech in their states.
Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, have suggested that Trump look at speaking in the Senate chamber, which is controlled by a GOP majority.
The White House itself is another option.
“We always like to have a Plan B, but the president should be able to address the American people,” Sanders told Fox, “whether he does that from the halls of Congress or whether he does that in another location.”
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