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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 23 January 2019

Defying Pelosi, Trump proceeds with State of the Union plans

By JILL COLVIN and spoke on condition of receiving an address from
Associated Press anonymity. the president.
WASHINGTON (AP) — “Nancy Pelosi made the Officials have been consid-
The White House is mov- invitation to the president ering a list of potential al-
ing forward with plans for on the State of the Union. ternative venues, including
President Donald Trump He accepted,” said White a rally-style event, an Oval
to deliver his State of the House spokeswoman Sar- office address— as Pelosi
Union speech next week ah Huckabee Sanders. “At previously suggested — a
in front of a joint session of this point, we’re moving speech before the Senate
Congress — despite a let- forward.” chamber, and even a re-
ter from House Speaker The move is the latest in a turn visit to the U.S.-Mexico
Nancy Pelosi requesting he game of political brinks- border as Trump is expect-
delay it.The White House manship between Trump ed to continue to hammer
sent an email to the House and the House Speaker as the need for a barrier, ac-
sergeant-at-arms asking to they remain locked in an in- cording to two others famil-
schedule a walk-through creasingly personal stand- iar with the discussions.
in anticipation of a Jan. off over Trump’s demand Multiple versions are also
29 address, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., center, smiles as she for border wall funding that being drafted to suit the fi-
a White House official who helps give out food at World Central Kitchen, the not-for-profit has forced a partial gov- nal venue.
organization started by Chef Jose Andres, Tuesday, Jan. 22,
was not authorized to dis- 2019, in Washington. ernment shutdown that is The Constitution states only
cuss the planning by name Associated Press now in its second month. that the president “shall
The gamesmanship began from time to time give to
last week when Pelosi sent the Congress Information
a letter to Trump suggest- of the State of the Union,”
ing that he either deliver meaning the president can
the speech in writing or speak anywhere he choos-
postpone it until after the es or give his update in
partial government shut- writing. But a joint address
down is resolved, citing in the House chamber, in
security concerns. But the front of lawmakers from
White House maintains Pe- both parties, the Supreme
losi never formally rescind- Court justices and invited
ed her invitation, and is, in guests, provides the kind
essence, calling her bluff. of grand backdrop that is
“She has not canceled it. hard to mimic and that this
She asked us to postpone president, especially, en-
it,” White House spokes- joys.
man Hogan Gidley said in Still, North Carolina’s House
an interview Tuesday with Speaker Tim Moore wrote a
Fox News Channel. letter inviting Trump to de-
“We have no announce- liver the speech in the North
ment at this time,” he said, Carolina House cham-
“but Nancy Pelosi does ber. And Michigan House
not dictate to the presi- Speaker Lee Chatfield on
dent when he will or will not Friday invited Trump to
have a conversation with deliver the address at the
the American people.” state Capitol in Lansing in-
At the same time, the White stead.
House is continuing to work Trump called Moore Mon-
on contingency plans to day evening, according
give Trump a backup in to his office, and spoke by
case the joint-session plans phone with Chatfield Tues-
fall through. The president day morning, Chatfield
cannot speak in front of tweeted.
a joint session of Congress “I understand you have
without both chambers’ other plans for #SOTU, but
explicit permission. A reso- as we discussed, I look
lution needs to be agreed forward to hosting you in
to by both chambers spec- Michigan again soon,”
ifying the date and time for Chatfield wrote.q