npr:

President Trump said Wednesday night he won’t be looking for an alternative place to give the State of the Union address. Earlier in the day, asked about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., insisting he could not speak on the House floor until a partial government shutdown is over, the president said, “We’ll do something in the alternative.”

But late in the evening, Trump noted that Pelosi “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.”

“[There] is no venue that can compete with the history, tradition and importance of the House Chamber,” the president tweeted. “I look forward to giving a ‘great’ State of the Union Address in the near future!”

Pelosi was quick to respond in a tweet of her own. “Mr. President, I hope by saying ‘near future’ you mean you will support the House-passed package to #EndTheShutdown that the Senate will vote on tomorrow.” The Senate plans to vote on two measures Thursday to end the partial government shutdown; neither is expected to pass.

Continue reading