Donald Trump Rejects Nancy Pelosi’s Request To Delay State Of The Union Address, Pelosi Fires Back

The State of the Union address occurs annually, allowing the president of the United States to outline his agenda to both Congress and the citizens he serves. However, the ongoing government shutdown has left the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security without adequate funding, something of concern to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Donald Trump‘s next State of the Union address is slated for Jan. 29, but last week Pelosi had asked him to delay it or deliver it in writing. Trump, in response, cancelled her trip to Afghanistan, citing the shutdown for his reasoning. And in a new letter sent to Pelosi on Wednesday, Trump re-affirmed his plan to deliver his State of the Union address next week on Capitol Hill.

According to Trump’s explanation, officials representing both the Secret Service and the DHS have informed Trump that they are prepared for the event, something they had since stated publicly. Consequently, the White House still intends to perform the annual address on its chosen date, writing, “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!”

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Pelosi, however, retaliated by confirming her intentions to prevent him from speaking, saying, “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.”

Currently, the government shutdown is in its 33rd day. It is the longest shutdown in the United States’ history.