House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told President Donald Trump on Wednesday afternoon that she will block his State of the Union address until the government shutdown ends. “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 in the House chamber until the government has opened,” Pelosi wrote in a letter. In response, Trump told reporters at the White House the Democrats have become a “radicalized” party who have “become a very dangerous party for this country.” When asked if he will be giving a speech on Tuesday night, Trump said, “We'll be announcing what we're doing.”
Earlier Wednesday, Trump sent a letter to Pelosi telling her that he still intends to deliver the State of the Union address in front of Congress on Jan. 29, despite her request to delay the annual speech due to the government shutdown. Trump dismissed Pelosi’s concerns about security amid the shutdown and wrote in the letter, “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!” Trump needs Pelosi’s approval to give his address because both houses of Congress must pass a resolution approving a joint session of Congress in order to hear the president.
