Trump told to delay State of the Union address as shutdown goes on

PRESSURE ON US President Donald Trump over the ongoing shutdown of government has mounted as Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on him to delay his State of the Union address and economists acknowledged the standoff was having a greater impact than previously thought.

In a letter to Mr Trump, Ms Pelosi cited security concerns, noting that both the Secret Service and the Homeland Security Department are affected by the partial government shutdown, now in its fourth week.

She added that unless the government reopens this week, they should find another date or Mr Trump should deliver the annual address in writing.

The White House did not immediately respond to the highstakes move on the 26th day of the shutdown, as Mr Trump and Democrats are at an impasse over Mr Trump’s demands for $5.7 billion (£4.4 billion) to build a wall along the Mexican border.

Ms Pelosi is refusing money for the wall, which she views as ineffective and immoral; Democrats say they will discuss border security once the government has reopened.

The White House planned further meetings with rank-andfile lawmakers on Wednesday, though few saw those sessions as likely to budge either side.

Administration officials sought to project confidence even as Mr Trump’s own economists indicated the shutdown was having a greater impact.

Kevin Hassett, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said the shutdown was slowing growth more than predicted. An economic shift could rattle Mr Trump, who has tied his political fortunes to the stock market and made much of economic gains.