President Trump has given in to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and has agreed to postpone the State of the Union address until the government reopens.
Trump backs down
This backing away comes as a surprise from the normally combative president. Up until this point, it appeared that President Trump was going to force Pelosi’s hand, and deliver the State of the Union speech from a different location in Congress or from somewhere outside the Beltway. Now, he’s given Pelosi a win by bowing down to her demand.
Yesterday, Pelosi denied Trump’s request to deliver the State of the Union in its traditional venue: the House chamber. (RELATED: Nancy Pelosi Denies Trump’s Request to Deliver the State of the Union.) Trump had already called out Pelosi for inviting him to deliver the speech despite the ongoing shutdown. The White House was reportedly considering other options, such as asking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to invite Trump to deliver the speech before the Senate. (RELATED: White House Considers Asking Mitch McConnell to Invite Trump to Deliver State of the Union.)
Even Rep. Steny Hoyer, the number-two Democrat in charge of the House, was willing to allow Trump to come deliver the address. (RELATED: Hoyer Breaks With Pelosi, Says He Would Welcome Trump On House Floor For State Of The Union.)
But Pelosi stood her ground. And Trump, apparently, was unwilling to fight her on it:
As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the State of the Union Address. I agreed. She then changed her mind because of the Shutdown, suggesting a later date. This is her prerogative – I will do the Address when the Shutdown is over. I am not looking for an….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2019
….alternative venue for the SOTU Address because there is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition and importance of the House Chamber. I look forward to giving a “great” State of the Union Address in the near future!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2019
A deal afoot?
It’s questionable why Trump would put off delivering the State of the Union given that he’s in the most important public fight of his presidency. This was an opportunity to once again make his case to the American people about the necessity of the border wall.
Instead, he’s ceding ground to Pelosi in a battle that’s all about the force of will.
Perhaps Trump is hoping that by giving in to Pelosi on this fight, she’s willing to concede in another. I highly doubt that.
