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Justice invites Trump to give State of the Union Address in West Virginia

CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday he has extended an invitation to President Donald J. Trump to hold the State of the Union Address in West Virginia.

“I called the president yesterday to convey our invitation for him to come to West Virginia to give the State of the Union Address in our state Capitol,” Justice said in a press release. “Giving the speech in a state full of people who love their country would truly reflect his focus on the forgotten men and women of America.

“No matter where he chooses to have the speech, I want the president to know that he is always welcome in the great state of West Virginia.”

Before extending the invitation, Justice said he consulted with Speaker of the House of Delegates Roger Hanshaw, and he expressed full support of the invitation.

The move has the support of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

“I think it’s great that Governor Justice invited President Trump to address the nation from our state Capitol in Charleston, and I echo the governor’s statement that the president is always welcome in West Virginia,” she said.

Wood County Republican Party Chairman Rob Cornelius said many states are inviting the president to give the State of the Union from their locations. The attention has garnered support for the president’s proposed border wall, he said.

“Thanks to the infantile behavior of open borders liberals like Nancy Pelosi, we now have the eyes of the nation focused on The Wall,” Cornelius said. “Whether President Trump makes his address from the U.S. Senate, Covington Catholic High School or the actual moon, his message will be one that protects our nation from illegal aliens, grows our strong economy and keeps America great. Build The Wall.”

Judy Stephens of the Wood County Democratic Executive Committee said she felt the State of the Union address should be delivered in Washington, D.C. in either the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives or from the Oval Office.

“It shouldn’t be done in another state,” she said. “I think it is more important right now to get our government reopened so these (federal) workers can get back to work and paid again, rather than worry about a State of the Union address.

“I think the priorities are skewed. We need to get our government employees back to work,” Stephens said.

On Wednesday, Trump sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., saying he was planning to deliver the State of the Union on Jan. 29 in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives after the security concerns Pelosi brought up as a reason to delay the speech were taken care of.

“I look forward to seeing you on the evening on Jan. 29th,” the president wrote. “It would be very sad for our Country if the State of the Union were not delivered on time, on schedule, and very importantly, on location!”

Pelosi responded saying she would not consider a concurrent resolution to authorize a joint session of Congress for Trump to give his speech until the government is reopened.

Capito said she hopes the speech will move forward.

“The president indicated a desire to deliver the State of the Union from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, which I believe is an important tradition we should maintain,” she said. “It is unfortunate that Speaker Pelosi has indicated she does not plan to have the president address Congress and the American people from the House floor while portions of the government are shut down.”

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