Nancy Pelosi Shows No Signs of Backing Down to Donald Trump & He Can’t Stand It

Last week, Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to Donald Trump, essentially informing him that his invitation to give his State of the Union address on the House floor, as is tradition, had been rescinded.

“Sadly, given the security concerns and unless government re-opens this week,” she wrote, “I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address.” She also suggested he consider submitting his address in writing. That used to be how the State of the Union was delivered, so it’s not that unusual an idea, but it must have infuriated Trump, who, as we know, loves nothing more than television cameras and standing ovations.

Earlier today, Trump responded with a letter of his own, refusing Pelosi’s decision. He said the SotU would proceed “on time, on schedule, and very importantly, on location!” The White House has reportedly been pushing for a walk-through of the venue Pelosi does not seem willing to give him access to. And according to Politico, “An outside Trump adviser said two drafts of the State of the Union address are being written — one to deliver at the Capitol and one to deliver to people other than members of Congress — as Trump and his advisers prepare for either venue.”

Now, Pelosi has released yet another letter to Trump, which can essentially be boiled down to “Did I stutter??”

“I am writing to inform you that the House of Representatives will not consider a concurrent resolution authorizing the President’s State of the Union address in the House Chamber until government has opened,” the letter reads. “Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened.”

Speaker Pelosi won’t say what would happen if Trump shows up uninvited next Tuesday. Would she have him removed? Would Democrats boycott? Pelosi hasn’t let him steamroll her thus far, and it would be incredibly disappointing if she did end up caving to his bullying. That doesn’t seem likely at this point, though.

Trump is attempting to hold the government (and all furloughed and unpaid government workers) hostage until he gets his arbitrary demand of $5 billion for a symbolic monument to racism. But it’s not working and that must confuse and enrage him to no end. He can’t even bring himself to come up with a stupid nickname for Pelosi, so you know he’s scared of her.

Trump, meanwhile, accused Pelosi of canceling the State of the Union because she’s “afraid of the truth” and “she doesn’t want the American public to see what’s going on.” It seems more likely that she doesn’t want to cave to the demands of a bully and give him money for an ineffectual wall, just so he can go on TV and get Republicans to clap for his lies. But sure, he can say she’s “afraid.”

Update 1/24: Donald Trump has agreed to postpone the State of the Union until after the shutdown ends because Pelosi is a freaking boss.

(image: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Holds Her Weekly News Conference On Capitol Hill)

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Vivian Kane

Vivian Kane (she/her) is the Senior News Editor at The Mary Sue, where she's been writing about politics and entertainment (and all the ways in which the two overlap) since the dark days of late 2016. Born in San Francisco and radicalized in Los Angeles, she now lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she gets to put her MFA to use covering the local theatre scene. She is the co-owner of The Pitch, Kansas City’s alt news and culture magazine, alongside her husband, Brock Wilbur, with whom she also shares many cats.

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