US House Speaker prevents Trump from delivering State of the Union address.

247, with Reuters - US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (22) that he will organize an alternative event to deliver the State of the Union address, after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it would not be possible for him to make the speech in the House before the government shutdown ends.

The clash between the two most powerful leaders in Washington represents an escalation in the impasse that led to a partial government shutdown for 33 days and threatens the US economy and the livelihoods of 800 federal employees.

Commenting on Pelosi's decision to block his speech in the House, Trump said at a meeting on border security that "it's a disgrace."

Pelosi told the president that for now she would not consider authorizing the speech, an annual tradition in American politics commonly televised from the House floor.

"Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreed date for that speech, when the government is open," Pelosi told Trump in a letter.

The State of the Union address, used by US presidents to announce their goals and policies for the year, has become hostage to the clash between Trump and Democratic congressmen over the funding he is demanding for the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico.

About 25 percent of the government has been paralyzed since December 22, when funding for some U.S. agencies ran out for reasons unrelated to border security or immigration.

Initially, Trump expressed support for new legislation that would restore funding to these agencies. Later, however, he demanded that any law passed to end the shutdown include $5,7 billion to fund the construction of the wall, funds that Democrats refuse to provide.