Trump speech likely to run over an hour, still being finished

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Trump to focus on promises, agenda in address to Congress

Kristin Fisher reports from the White House

President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night is expected to run over an hour, Fox News is told – as the White House continues to work on the draft.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and White House Communications Director Mike Dubke briefed House GOP press secretaries on the address Tuesday afternoon. Fox News is told the duo informed the group they “are looking to add rather than subtract” to the speech at this point.

Fox News is told the speech should run an hour and five minutes on the short end – but as long as an hour and 20 minutes.

One source inside the meeting said it seemed as though “this is a speech that has not been written yet.”

Members of Congress from both parties are clamoring for an early copy. Most often have one sitting on their chairs when they walk into the House chamber, but did not as of Tuesday mid-afternoon.

Fox News is told that Spicer told the communications directors they will ask the president “in the car” en route to the Capitol if they can release full text of the speech early.

There is intense interest in this year’s address. Fox News is told the chamber is way over capacity this year considering all the requests from former members and others to attend.

For this year, there are 433 fixed chairs in the House chamber, along with 140 temporary chairs on the floor for lawmakers, administration officials, Cabinet members and Supreme Court justices.

In the viewing gallery above the chamber, there are 657 fixed seats.

There is usually space for another 250 to 300 people to stand.

Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.