President Donald Trump Thursday announced that he would delay his State of the Union address until a crippling government shutdown ends, backing down in a major spat with the Democrats over his plan to build a controversial border wall along the US-Mexico border.
His announcement came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rescinded an invitation for him to deliver the speech in the House Chamber.
A row between Trump and the Democrats over border security has led to the longest government shutdown in US history. Trump is demanding USD 5.7 billion of congressional funding to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, but newly empowered Democrats have refused.
Some 800,000 federal employees have been going unpaid since December 22 due to the shutdown.
Trump announcing his decision said it was Pelosi's "prerogative" to suggest a later date.
"As the Shutdown was going on, Nancy Pelosi asked me to give the State of the Union Address. I agreed. She then 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," 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. I look forward to giving a 'great' State of the Union Address in the near future!"
Trump initially said the speech should be "on time, on schedule, and very importantly, on location."
"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," Pelosi said on Twitter. "Please accept this proposal so we can re-open government, repay our federal workers and then negotiate our differences."
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