Pelosi Demands State of the Union Be Cancelled

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi played a new card in the shutdown battle, Wednesday. 

Pelosi sent an open letter to President Trump demanding he reschedule his State of the Union address until after the government has been reopened. 

News: @SpeakerPelosi letter to President Trump suggesting he move State of the Union until after government re-opens – or submit his speech in writing instead – due to Shutdown effect in DHS and Secret Service, via @FoxReports & @arogDC: pic.twitter.com/CPMvjm7shr

— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) January 16, 2019

Daily Caller reports:

“A State of the Union address has never been delivered during a government shutdown,” she said in a letter to Trump, adding “Given the security concerns and unless government re-opens this week, I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address or for you to consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing to the Congress on January 29th.”

Pelosi referenced the lack of pay to the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security employees, and the possible effect on security surrounding the landmark yearly event.

Pelosi’s request to Trump for a delay in the state of the union address comes during the partial government shutdown, which is part of a broader high stakes fight over funding for the border wall. Trump is demanding $5.7 billion in funding for the wall, but Democratic leaders are saying they’ll only offer $1.6 billion.

Talks screeched to a halt last week when Trump asked Pelosi point blank in the White House Situation Room whether she would negotiate over border wall funds if he re-opened the government. After Pelosi replied that she would not, Trump said “bye bye” and walked out.

What do you think? Should President Trump agree, or go ahead with the speech anyway?