Politics

Pelosi Officially Cancels State Of The Union

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Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officially will not allow President Donald Trump to deliver his State of the Union address to Congress on January 29, she said in a letter Wednesday afternoon.

“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 address in the House Chamber until the government has been reopened,” Pelosi declared.

Pelosi’s letter came hours after Trump dared the Speaker to follow through on her suggestion that the address be put off. The House speaker at the time suggested that the address could not be held because of security concerns from the government shutdown’s effect on protection personnel.

Pelosi, however, was rebuked by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, who said that the department was fully prepared to provide security if necessary.

Trump referenced Nielsen’s statement in his Wednesday morning letter to Pelosi on the State of the Union, saying the Secret Service told him there is “absolutely no problem regarding security with respect to the event.”

The president added, “Accordingly, there are no security concerns regarding the State of the Union Address. Therefore, I will be honoring your invitation.”

Trump concluded that “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!”

A source close to the president told The Daily Caller after the letter’s release that the White House has other plans for the State of the Union address if it is formally canceled within the House of Representatives. (RELATED: Trump Holds Fast On Shutdown As Advisers Warn Of Consequences)