CHARLESTON, W.Va. — As the time and place for a potential State of the Union address by President Donald Trump remains up in the air, Governor Jim Justice has extended an invite to Trump to travel to West Virginia for it.
Justice announced on Wednesday that he reached out an invitation to Trump to have his the speech in the State Capitol.
“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. 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,” Justice said in a release.
“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.”
The debate of when the address should take place comes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked Trump to postpone it because the government is shutdown, citing security concerns. The State of the Union address usually takes place in the chamber of the United State House of Representatives.
Shortly after Justice’s announcement of inviting Trump to West Virginia for the address, Trump wrote a letter to Pelosi stating he would be holding the address in the Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 29 like originally scheduled. She wrote a letter back to Trump saying the House will not pass a resolution for the address until the government reopens.
West Virginia is not the first state to extend an offer to Trump for the State of the Union address. A few days ago, North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore asked Trump to hold it in Raleigh at the General Assembly.
Justice said in his release that before he extended his invitation, he consulted with Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, and Hanshaw expressed full support of the invitation.
Some legislators expressed displeasure in Justice’s invite to Trump, including Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio. Fluharty said in a tweet, “Not sure why we’re surprised by @WVGovernor inviting @POTUS to WV for #SOTU. If there’s anything we know about our Gov it’s that he loves attention. Our state isn’t a prop though, Mr. Governor. Maybe focus your attention on our legislative session and our people. #wvpol”
Not sure why we’re surprised by @WVGovernor inviting @POTUS to WV for #SOTU. If there’s anything we know about our Gov it’s that he loves attention. Our state isn’t a prop though, Mr. Governor. Maybe focus your attention on our legislative session and our people. #wvpol
— Shawn Fluharty (@WVUFLU) January 23, 2019