General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: David Frum: Trump built the trap and walked into it. Pelosi just locked it behind him. [View all]LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,577 posts)First of all, it's not overpriced so as to transfer even more money into Donnie Two Scoops wallet.
I don't think Trump can just sashay up to the door and expect to be admitted. I imagine use of the chamber is controlled by the Speaker of the House, who just happens to be Nancy Pelosi, and if she won't invite him there for the SOTU I doubt she'll let him use it for a campaign photo-op. If he showed up on his own he'd probably find the doors locked.
The Senate only has 100 seats, so even if McTurtle invited him to use it they'd have to bring in folding chairs for the House Republicans. Plus, if it's not delivered to the entire Congress is it truly an SOTU?
Trump has really backed himself into a corner, SOTU-wise. He's going to be the first president to miss doing a broadcast SOTU since 1947, when Truman's Annual Message (as it was called then) became the first to be broadcast live on television. The first radio broadcast of the Annual Message on radio was made by Calvin Coolidge in 1923.
In 1965 Johnson broke with tradition and delivered the SOTU at night, which he felt would reach a broader audience.
Last February, President Trumps campaign website offered donors the chance to have their names broadcast on a screen during Tuesdays address in exchange for a special State of the Union contribution. I'm not sure if that came to pass. I would have said it was illegal for Trump to use the SOTU as a campaign fund raiser, but using "Trump" and "illegal" in the same sentence seems redundant.
source: State of the Union Broadcast History, Time