MAGA Mike Johnson hands Trump an assist by delaying Biden speech

On the third anniversary of the attempted coup at the nation's Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) finally extended an invitation to President Joe Biden to deliver the annual State of the Union address to Congress and the nation.

For this year's address, coming in a presidential election year, Johnson has pushed the date well beyond the traditional time frame for a national address, scheduling it for days after Super Tuesday.

In his formal invitation to the president, Johnson wrote, "It is my solemn duty to invite President Biden to address a Joint Session of Congress on March 7th to report on the state of our union."

That date comes just days after voters in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia vote on their party's presidential nominees for the general election in November.

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During Donald Trump's single term, he gave his State of the Union speech on 2/28, 1/30, 2/5 and 2/4 — each date falling in line with the speech traditionally being given in mid-January to early February.

During President George W. Bush's two terms, he gave his national address six times in January and only once in February.

With CNN reporting that Biden is expected to contrast his record with Trump's, the speech delay gives a boost to the Republican frontrunner after the 15 Super Tuesday states have already gone to the polls.

As Punchbowl's Jake Sherman noted, "Latest SOTU in a century. And only the second time in the last 20 years SOTU has been scheduled for March."

Axios also noted the late date, reporting, "Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has invited President Biden to deliver the State of the Union address on March 7, days after Super Tuesday, when more than a dozen states will hold nominating contests."