Nancy Pelosi Is Not Playing Around

I didn’t even realize this was a thing, and when Pelosi sent out the letter this morning, I thought it was mostly an optics or a posturing thing, but from what I understand, Pelosi has effectively canceled Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address.

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

The State of the Union Address is apparently given “at the invitation of the Speaker of the House,” and this is Pelosi effectively pulling that invitation (or at least postponing it).

This Pelosi move feels like classic Pelosi. Makes a public, formal request to the president to postpone SOTU. Tees it up politely. But really, she's not asking. She controls if or when SOTU happens. This is gonna drive Trump crazy. https://t.co/kL4vUciATQ

— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) January 16, 2019

Don’t be confused: Speaker Pelosi ain’t asking, she is telling. Bold move on her part telling President no dice on State of Union address in person at Capitol.

— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) January 16, 2019

Yeah there’s a lot of “Pelosi suggests she might not invite Trump” chatter but that’s not what this is. It’s up to the Speaker to invite the head of a co-equal branch to address Congress. White House doesn’t get a day in the matter. https://t.co/u3UkEas5Gb

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) January 16, 2019

Wow! I’m sure that the White House will come up with some elaborate on the White House lawn sort of scheme to work around the withdrawn invitation, but as things so often do with Trump, my guess is that it will backfire.

Go, Nancy!