US President Donald Trump still plans to deliver his annual State of the Union address from the Capitol on January 29 as scheduled, a Trump administration official said on Tuesday.
This is coming up as the federal government shutdown stretched into its second month.
The White House has sent a request to the House of Representatives’ sergeant at arms seeking a “walk-through” for the January 29 speech, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Fox News had earlier reported the request.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week called on Trump to reconsider delivering the president’s annual address before a gathering of both chambers of Congress and other dignitaries given that about one-quarter of the US Government has been shuttered since December 22.
Trump is required to provide Congress a report on the nation, but is not required to deliver it in a live, televised address before US lawmakers.
Pelosi, in a January 16 letter to the president, urged Trump to postpone it or to give it in writing.
The president then stopped Pelosi from using a military aircraft for a congressional delegation’s planned visit of US troops in Afghanistan.
Reuters/NAN.
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