Trump cancels State of Union address

United States President Donald Trump has cancelled the annual State of the Union address, which was slated to take place on Tuesday (January 29), authorities confirmed on Monday.

An aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNN that the next date for the address is yet to be decided.

In order to give an address like the State of the Union to a joint session of Congress, both the House and Senate must pass a resolution allowing it to happen, making Pelosi's voice an important part of the discussions.

The President, previous week cancelled the annual State of the Union address after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi barred him from speaking at the House Chambers while the partial government shutdown was still underway.

Trump, while speaking to reporters, said that there would be an alternative to the address, without outlining the details, further calling the cancellation a "great, great horrible mark" and a "great blotch" on the USA.

Pelosi had highlighted that the address would be set for a later, "mutually agreeable" date after the shutdown is called off.