Pelosi: State of Union address by Trump in House chamber is off
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is officially postponing President Donald Trump's State of the Union address until the government is fully reopened.
The California Democrat told Trump in a letter today the Democratic-controlled House won't pass the required measure for him to give the nationally televised speech from the House floor.
Pelosi acted just hours after Trump notified her that he was planning to deliver the speech next Tuesday in line with her original invitation.
Pelosi's moves have left the White House scrambling to devise an alternative plan for the speech, which is one of the president's top opportunities to lay out his agenda to the public.
Pelosi said "I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened."
2:50 p.m.
WASHINGTON — CNN is reporting that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said she won't consider authorization for President Trump to give his State of the Union address in the House chamber until the government is reopened.
Trump said he was not surprised Pelosi had banned him from delivering the speech in the chamber. The president also said the shutdown will continue for an unspecified time because he believes the public supports his call for a border wall.