The White House sought to schedule a walk-through for its advance staff at the U.S. Capitol building Monday, which indicates President Donald Trump intends to deliver his State of the Union address despite being un-invited by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week.
Here’s the message from the White House, requesting a SOTU walk thru for yesterday pic.twitter.com/M19Q9hH9Bd
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) January 22, 2019
The schedule request from the White House is the latest in a larger saga over a partial government shutdown lasting more than a month as a result of funding disagreements between Democrats and Republicans for a wall along the U.S. southern border.
Trump is demanding$ 5.7 billion in funding with Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying they will give no more than $1.6 billion. (RELATED: Trump Holds Fast On Shutdown As Advisers Warn Of Consequences)
Pelosi wrote Trump last week notifying him that she was un-inviting him from delivering a State of the Union address to Congress on Jan 29, claiming that security readiness was affected because protection personnel were not receiving their paychecks.
Today, I wrote to @realDonaldTrump recommending that we delay the State of the Union until after government re-opens, as the @SecretService, the lead federal agency for #SOTU security, faces its 26th day without funding. https://t.co/K2oL8WGvqo pic.twitter.com/g3fIlxDbbK
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 16, 2019
President Donald Trump talks with Chief Justice John Roberts as he departs after delivering his State of the Union address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill. January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Pelosi, however, was rebuked by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who said that the department was fully prepared to provide security if necessary.
The Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union. We thank the Service for their mission focus and dedication and for all they do each day to secure our homeland.
— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) January 16, 2019
Trump responded to Pelosi days later saying that the State of the Union address would be delivered in some form, and they would let her know eventually what he decided. The administration’s request of a walk through indicates they still believe that a State of the Union address before the full Congress is still on the table.
Nancy, I am still thinking about the State of the Union speech, there are so many options – including doing it as per your written offer (made during the Shutdown, security is no problem), and my written acceptance. While a contract is a contract, I’ll get back to you soon!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2019