If it were up to Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry, House Republicans would pull the invitation to President Joe Biden for the State of the Union address until the southern border is secured.
In talking with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on Monday, Perry noted that Biden “comes at the invitation of Congress. The Republicans are in charge of the House. There’s no reason that we need to invite him to get more propaganda and to actually blame the American people for the crisis he caused.”
The congressman, who represents the 10th District, noted that this would be a perfect opportunity for Republicans to ramp up pressure on Biden over the southern border amid an influx of migrants and all the problems they are causing for the country.
"He comes at the invitation of Congress. Republicans are in control of the House. There's no reason that we need to invite him" -- Rep. Scott Perry wants House Republicans to cancel SOTU pic.twitter.com/HQ6L4d2LC5
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 26, 2024
While this would be highly unusual, a Monday story on thehill.com noted that it wouldn’t set a precedent. That took place a few years ago when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., delayed President Donald Trump from delivering his 2019 State of the Union speech because of a partial government shutdown that January.
Disinviting the president from giving his State of the Union address had never happened before.
Trump would deliver the speech weeks later but without an introduction from Pelosi, which again broke from tradition.
Said Perry, “We need to use every single point of leverage, every single point, Maria, including the spending, and certainly including an address to the people from Congress.”
