Nancy Pelosi, spokeswoman for the US House of Representatives, has announced that she will not allow Donald Trump's annual State of the Union Address speech to the House of Representatives unless Trump ends the government shutdown.
In a letter to Trump, Pelosi wrote that she would not allow Trump's "State of the Union" speech until the government worked again. Trump should actually deliver his speech to the House of Representatives on January 29, but he needs the invitation of the landlady. Trump had previously announced that it would be "very sad" if he had to postpone the speech.
Pelosi had already suggested to him in mid-January to postpone the speech because of the partial government shutdown or to publish it only in writing. In her letter to Trump at the time, Pelosi called "security concerns" the reason why the president should postpone the speech to the House of Representatives and the Senate. In doing so, she referred to financial means left over for the security service Secret Service and the Ministry of Homeland Security due to the bankruptcy of the budget. The Secret Service is responsible for protecting the president and securing his speech on the state of the nation.
Trump's swipes
Immediately afterwards President Trump had canceled a trip by Nancy Pelosi. "Due to the shutdown, unfortunately, I have to tell you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt and Afghanistan has been postponed," Trump wrote to the House Chairperson. The Democrat wanted to meet in Brussels, among others, with the EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Federica Mogherini. In Afghanistan, she wanted to visit US troops and receive security and intelligence documents.
In his letter, Trump could not resist a swipe at the Democrat by implying that they are traveling for PR purposes anyway. "With 800,000 great American workers out of salary, you certainly agree that postponing this PR event is absolutely appropriate," he wrote in reference to the trip.
For around four weeks, parts of the government apparatus have been shut down in the US because the dispute over Trump's request for a wall on the border with Mexico did not lead to the passing of a budget law. Trump refuses to sign a law that does not include money for the wall. The Democrats, whose votes he relies on in Congress, reject that.
The President's annual State of the Union address has a long tradition dating back to the beginnings of the United States at the end of the 18th century.