Washington was gripped by much drama Wednesday as the White House and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi battled over the State of the Union (SOTU) address, indicating that the political divide that drove the government shutdown into an unprecedented length is as deep as ever.
U.S. President Donald Trump kicked up dust Wednesday morning with a letter addressed to Pelosi, stating that he intends to "honor her invitation" to deliver the SOTU address on Jan. 29 in the House of Representatives chamber before a joint session.
The move directly ran counter to a suggestion made by Pelosi on Jan. 16 for Trump to postpone the address until the government shutdown ended, or submit the address in writing to Congress.
Trump, refuting the reasons Pelosi cited for postponing the address, said in his letter that he had been assured by the Department of Homeland Security that the government shutdown would not undermine security measures for the event.
On Jan. 3, the day Pelosi was sworn in as the speaker of the House, Pelosi first invited Trump to deliver the speech on Jan. 29, despite the fact that the government had been shut down for almost two weeks.
As the stalemate continued, Pelosi tried to persuade Trump to push back the date, an idea Trump did not respond to until Wednesday.
Since Pelosi did not officially disinvite Trump in the Jan. 16 letter, it was for a moment unclear if Trump would have his way.
But the suspense soon dispersed as Pelosi replied to Trump's letter, making it clear that she would not host him on Jan. 29 if the government is still in shutdown.
The House speaker said she did not anticipate that the government shutdown would last until the end of the month when she extended the invitation on Jan. 3.
During a press event Wednesday afternoon, Trump slammed Pelosi for denying him the opportunity, saying he was "not surprised" at Pelosi's statement and that the Democrats "have become radicalized."
"It's a sad thing for our country. We'll do something in the alternative," Trump told the press, spurring rumors that he may deliver the speech on the U.S.-Mexican border, among other locations.
Jim Justice, the governor of West Virginia, said in a statement that he had invited Trump to deliver the SOTU address in West Virginia's capitol building. Political leaders in the states of North Carolina and Michigan also made similar gestures.
All of the rumors and speculation were put to rest late Wednesday evening, after Trump said in a two-part tweet that he had decided to concede to Pelosi's position and wait until the government reopens to deliver the SOTU address in the house chamber.
"I will do the address when the shutdown is over," Trump said. "I am not looking for an alternative venue for the SOTU address because there is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition and importance of the House Chamber."
The back and forth cast a shadow on prospects that both sides will strike a deal in the near future to reopen the government.
The shutdown, stemming from disagreement over funding for a border wall, is about to enter its 34th day. With more votes planned for Thursday, it is unlikely that any of the bills introduced intending to end the shutdown will win enough bipartisan support.
