McCarthy to submit copy of Trump’s SOTU address to House Clerk for archives

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced on the House floor Wednesday that he was delivering a copy of President Trump’s State of the Union speech to be archived by the House Clerk.

McCarthy’s announcement comes in the wake of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tearing her copy of the speech at the end of the address on Tuesday evening.

The California Republican blasted Pelosi, arguing that ripping the speech was disrespectful to the people Trump honored during his remarks.

“Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi was unmoved and chose to tear up the House’s copy of that speech,” he said.  

“She had no right to destroy this document, especially one filled with such impactful stories of American patriots,” he added. “That record was presented before the People’s House and it belongs to the American people.” 

McCarthy said the copy he was submitting to the clerk that was given to him at the White House and signed by the president on Wednesday “will be remembered by history, not erased by the Speaker.”

“In my hand, I have an official copy of the President’s State of the Union address, signed by President Trump,” he said. “It will be delivered to the House Clerk’s office to be archived and preserved for posterity.

“Whether she likes it or not, these great American stories will be remembered by history, not erased by the Speaker,” he continued. “We are better because of them, we should learn from them, and we should feel proud that they will shape our future.” 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) defended Pelosi, arguing that her actions are protected under the First Amendment. 

“Mr. Speaker, obviously each of us had our own reaction to the speech that was given by the president last night. He had every right, under the First Amendment, to say what he believed, what he was going to do, what he wanted us to do,” he said on the floor.  

“I suggest to you that, if I took this card and tore it up because I didn’t like what was on the card, I am protected by the First Amendment in doing that,” he continued. “That is a form of speech — if the effort is to shut one another up, perhaps we’ll go down that road.” 

The Maryland Democrat went on to slam Republicans’ plan – led by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) – to introduce a resolution disapproving of Pelosi’s actions, asserting that it would not be brought up for a vote. 

“An action that says I feel this way should be protected. Not necessarily agreed with, maybe even subject to criticism, but certainly not subject to a resolution,” Hoyer said. “This resolution will not go forward, of course, as I will move to table it, if it’s offered, because I believe it undermines the First Amendment and the House.