'The president blinked': CNN panel explains how Pelosi called Trump's bluff -- and won

President Donald Trump late Wednesday backed off his threat to storm into the House of Representatives uninvited and deliver his State of the Union address in the House of Representatives without the consent of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

On CNN Thursday morning, host John Berman succinctly described what happened: "The president blinked."

"He now says he will not deliver that speech until a government shutdown is over," Berman added. "This is a full 180 in tone and in substance."

Host Alisyn Camerota then jumped in to provide more background to Trump's unexpected cave on the State of the Union.

"CNN has learned that the White House was caught off guard when Speaker Pelosi called the president's bluff," she said. "Sources tell us that the president is increasingly mystified that his tactics have not turned the tables on Democrats."

CNN's Dana Bash then explained that not only was Trump surprised Pelosi called his bluff, but he was "actively looking" for alternate sites where he could deliver his address.

Given all this, Berman said he was surprised that Trump backed down from his threats.

"They were searching for alternative sites!" he marveled. "They were threatening to walk up there!"

Watch the video below.