House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is asking President Donald Trump to reschedule the State of the Union because of the government shutdown.
In a letter sent to the President Wednesday morning, Pelosi requested that Trump either delay or submit the annual address in writing, citing historical precedent and security concerns.
"During the 19th Century and up until the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, these annual State of the Union messages were delivered to Congress in writing," Pelosi wrote, adding that no SOTU address has been given during a government shutdown since 1977.
"Sadly," Pelosi concluded, "given the security concerns and unless government re-opens this week, I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address or for you to consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing to the Congress on January 29th."
Pelosi makes a good case.
@MSNBC Nancy Pelosi is a master. I regret any moment of doubt I ever had about her.— Erin (@Erin) 1547650378.0
@MSNBC Good news for Trump- it's a one pager.— 👣 N S B 🤘 (@👣 N S B 🤘) 1547650077.0
@MSNBC This is brilliant— Stacy R (@Stacy R) 1547650463.0
@MSNBC @MalcolmNance 👏👏👏— Robert Cameron (@Robert Cameron) 1547650680.0
It seems unlikely that Trump would willingly forego the spotlight, or the chance to deliver a televised speech.
@MSNBC @MalcolmNance He'll refuse, & the whole address will be a nasty, petty, vitriol-filled campaign rally of a s… https://t.co/Ty0ZPUKemg— Cindy A (@Cindy A) 1547651567.0
@MSNBC Trump should jump at the chance to release #SOTU as written statement. No big words to learn, no long words… https://t.co/xS1BVaYuvT— Bill Wong (@Bill Wong) 1547650488.0
@MSNBC I’ll take his resignation in writing too! #TrumpResignNow— Alison🥀 (@Alison🥀) 1547650638.0
@MSNBC Why not just tweet it out.— Phil Paule (@Phil Paule) 1547650646.0
There are those who feel that the speech, no matter how Trump gives it, would be pointless.
The country is tired of being lied to by Trump.
@MSNBC He can sum it up in an 8 word speech... The State of the Union is a DISASTER...— LeoKapakos (@LeoKapakos) 1547650493.0
@MSNBC I think that most of the country--and the world--are quite clear on the "State of the Union": It's broken, p… https://t.co/7E6PDWcoNU— Michelle Wilbert (@Michelle Wilbert) 1547650852.0
@MSNBC Hopefully the President takes the option of giving his address in writing. That way we don’t have to listen to his lies.— Sharon Miller (@Sharon Miller) 1547651083.0
@MSNBC If not delayed, the State of the Union will become a campaign speech. It likely would anyway.— Ximiximi (@Ximiximi) 1547650228.0
@MSNBC Doesn’t matter when he gives his message. It will be full of lies and self praise. Hate to be so hateful, bu… https://t.co/bDZDh5uVQV— Craddocks (@Craddocks) 1547651451.0
Jokes about Trump's literacy came rushing in.
@MSNBC And media, if he posts it on social media please don’t report on it. I’m sure he can deliver it on faux news to his supporters— Lady No BS 🌱🐶🌍💖 (@Lady No BS 🌱🐶🌍💖) 1547650723.0
@MSNBC If Trump delivered the State Of The Union in writing, he'd have to wait until Fox & Friends explained to him what's in it.— District of Champions (@District of Champions) 1547651285.0
@MSNBC Trump should jump at the chance to release #SOTU as written statement. No big words to learn, no long words… https://t.co/xS1BVaYuvT— Bill Wong (@Bill Wong) 1547650488.0
@MSNBC Trump is going to need drawings to understand this. Not that he’s likely to cooperate though— Jennifer (@Jennifer) 1547650179.0
Trump's third government shutdown - the longest in history - is now on its 26th day. If it drags on another two weeks, estimates say the economy will take a $6 billion hit.
We can also expect to see a steady drop in GDP, as 800,000 federal workers go without pay. CNBC added that "greater losses" to the economy will arise "from private contractors also out of work and other government spending and functions that won't occur."