House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has officially invited President Trump to deliver his annual State of the Union address on Feb. 4, 2020.
"In their great wisdom, our Founders crafted a Constitution based on a system of separation of powers: three co-equal branches acting as checks on each other. To ensure that balance of powers, the Constitution calls for the President to "from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union," Pelosi writes.
The invitation comes just two days after that very system of checks and balances was in clear view, as Pelosi presided over the House vote to impeach Trump for abusing his power as president and for obstructing Congress.
The timing of the speech could be awkward, if the Senate is conducting an impeachment trial to determine whether Trump should be acquitted of the two charges from the House, or convicted and removed from office. Pelosi has not yet sent the House's indictments to the Senate to begin such a trial though. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said there is "no chance" the president will be found guilty, but he's still negotiating the parameters of a trial with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Pelosi made no mention, however, of the discord between her and Trump in her invitation. And it's not clear yet whether Trump will accept the invitation. The date of Trump's State of the Union earlier this year was marked by controversy too, after Pelosi rescinded her initial date because it fell during a 35-day government shutdown amid a push by Trump to secure funding for his border wall. The speech was later rescheduled after a compromise to re-open the government was reached.
If Trump does accept, the Tuesday speech. would come just one day after the Iowa caucuses, the first step in Democratic voters picking a nominee to challenge Trump. There is also a Democratic primary debate in New Hampshire scheduled for that Friday.
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