Donald Trump to call for 'unity' in State of the Union address to Democratic House

WASHINGTON – Facing a still-new Democratic-run House, President Donald Trump will try to use next week's State of the Union address to call for unity and bipartisan cooperation, officials said Friday, even on hot-button issues like border security.

“Together we can break decades of political stalemate," Trump plans to say, according to an excerpt of the speech released by the White House. "We can bridge old divisions, heal old wounds, build new coalitions, forge new solutions and unlock the extraordinary promise of America’s future.

"The decision is ours to make.”

In an email to supporters asking for ideas on the speech, however, the Trump campaign took out after the top congressional Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

"Nancy & Chuck don’t want me to speak, Mainstream Media outlets don’t want me to speak, and the Hollywood Elites don’t want me to speak," Trump says in the email.

President Donald Trump at last year's State of the Union
President Donald Trump at last year's State of the Union

The annual address to a joint session of Congress comes less than two weeks after a partial government shutdown that lasted a record 35 days, the result of an angry battle over funding for Trump's proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border – a budget battle still ongoing.

The president's State of the Union speech, delayed a week because of the shutdown, can be broken down into five areas, said a senior administration official speaking on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt Trump:

• Immigration and border security. Trump is likely to discuss the wall and the congressional committee discussing a new border security package; he may also mention his threat to declare a "national emergency" if Congress cannot agree to fund his proposed wall. "He’s going to try to present a path forward," the official said.

• Trade. While denouncing past trade deals he claims have hurt the American worker, the official said, Trump will update Congress on the progress of new trade talks with China. He also plans to ask lawmakers to approve a revamped trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.

• "Rebuilding America." Trump will again ask Congress to pass an infrastructure package. The official said Trump will provide a specific dollar figure for "substantial investments" in infrastructure, but would not provide specifics. Last year, Trump proposed a package of $1.5 trillion in infrastructure spending.

• Health care. The official again did not provide specifics, but said Trump would offer several proposals for "lowering the cost of prescription drugs and health care generally.”

• Diplomacy and the military. Trump will discuss the importance of bringing an end to various wars, with Syria and Afghanistan expected to be topics. The officials confirmed that Trump will also discuss the tumult in Venezuela.

Trump himself has said he may use the State of the Union to announce the date and location of his next meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Their second summit is expected to take place later this month.

Last year, Trump delivered his State of the Union before a Republican-run House and Senate. Since then, new congressional elections gave Democrats a majority in the House, forcing Trump to seek bipartisan plans – though Trump's speech is also expected to touch on divisive issues ranging from the wall to a woman's right to legal abortions.

Trump will seek a "unifying, optimistic tone" in what the official described as a "standard State of the Union."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump to call for 'unity' in State of the Union address to Democratic House