It Sounds Like POTUS Still Plans On Delivering The SOTU Address As Originally Scheduled

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote a letter to President Trump, urging him to postpone the State of the Union address, citing security concerns rooted in the government shutdown.

“Sadly, 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 wrote.

Today, I wrote to @realDonaldTrump recommending that we delay the State of the Union until after government re-opens, as the @SecretService, the lead federal agency for #SOTU security, faces its 26th day without funding. https://t.co/K2oL8WGvqo pic.twitter.com/g3fIlxDbbK

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 16, 2019

Just one minor detail. The Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service don’t seem to have any concerns. They’re “fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union.”

The Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union. We thank the Service for their mission focus and dedication and for all they do each day to secure our homeland.

— Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen (@SecNielsen) January 16, 2019

As it turns out, Pelosi’s letter was based off of a cry from a single furloughed DHS employee.

After @SpeakerPelosi sent Pres. Trump letter asking to delay SOTU, citing security concerns, Pelosi spokesperson later said a furloughed DHS employee had "expressed serious concerns that the department has insufficient staffing levels," @MajorCBS reports https://t.co/hs6BqeK09f pic.twitter.com/j9wyuWFCIC

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 17, 2019

To make matters worse…

Fox News's John Roberts says a DHS official told him that no one from Pelosi's office called the Secret Service to ask if they had concerns about SOTU before she sent that letter. #StateoftheUnion #GovernmentShutdown

— Cortney O'Brien (@obrienc2) January 16, 2019

All that being said, it sounds like President Trump is going to ignore her request. He’s planning on proceeding.

SCOOP: @WhiteHouse has sent a letter to the Sergeant-At-Arms, asking to schedule a walk-through for the SOTU address. SAA cancelled a walk-through last week at the request of @SpeakerPelosi . @realDonaldTrump still plans to be at the Capitol on Jan 29 for the speech

— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) January 22, 2019

Here’s the report:

We’ll see what happens.