Trump to Pelosi: ‘I will be honoring your invitation’ for the State of the Union [UPDATED]

UPDATE:

Pelosi responded to Trump, saying the House will not vote on a resolution authorizing the president to deliver the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber.

The ball is back in Trump’s court. Will he deliver the speech somewhere else?

Original story below:

Despite efforts by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to delay this year’s State of the Union address, President Trump intends to give his update to Congress and the American people at the time and place it was originally scheduled.

“Thank you for your letter of January 3, 2019, sent to me long after the Shutdown began, inviting me to address the Nation on January 29th as to the State of the Union,” the letter begins.

After citing Pelosi’s second letter suggesting a delay until after the shutdown due to security concerns, the president then notes that the United States Secret Service and the Departments of Homeland Security assured him that there would be “absolutely no problem regarding security with respect to the event.”

“Therefore, I will be honoring your invitation, and fulfilling my Constitutional duty, to deliver important information to the people and Congress of the United States of America regarding the State of our Union,” the letter concludes. “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!”

Recently, Pelosi has stymied White House efforts to prepare for the event, but hasn’t outright canceled it. House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries said Wednesday that "Unless the government is reopened, it's highly unlikely that the State of the Union is going to take place on floor of the United State House of Representatives."

Trump has once again made it clear that efforts to move the address have nothing to do with security and everything to do with politics, while placing the responsibility squarely on Pelosi’s shoulders.

It’s the speaker’s move now.

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