Pelosi's trip to Afghanistan had been a closely held secret due to security concerns, of course. Very few people knew she was heading there. @SteveScalise mentioned Pelosi was headed to Brussels in his presser this morning, which angered Dems.
— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) January 17, 2019
President Donald Trump, citing The federal government shutdown, drastically postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned abroad vacation with other associates of Congress to go to U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon in advance of they have been scheduled to depart with a army aircraft Thursday.
The president's abrupt, community motion arrived each day just after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump inside a letter to both reschedule his impending Point out with the Union handle to a joint session of Congress or deliver it in writing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited prospective protection considerations connected to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other members to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan over another several times.
Pelosi and several other associates of Congress have been about to depart the Capitol to travel to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe once the White Household introduced the postponement.
A White Household Formal informed NBC News that every one congressional delegations overseas that would have used federally funded military plane are already grounded by Trump right up until the shutdown ends.
However, the White House is allowing Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as well as other members with the Trump administration to travel to the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, up coming week.
"We're going to reschedule this seven-working day excursion in the event the Shutdown is above," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Clearly, if you desire to to produce your journey by traveling industrial, that will surely be your prerogative."
NEWS: Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) shouted "Go back to Puerto Rico" on House floor.
— Sarah Ferris (@sarahnferris) January 17, 2019
Statement: "Congressman Smith’s comment was directed at all the Democrats who were vacationing down in Puerto Rico last weekend during the government shutdown, not towards any individual member."
Trump's letter, which was manufactured general public within a tweet by White Dwelling press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not point out Pelosi's demand him to postpone the State on the Union address, which the president has not usually commented on. But his letter was seen for a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White Residence official claimed Trump "took immediate action" on Thursday immediately after learning Pelosi was planning to go ahead and take vacation.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, within a number of tweets, wrote which the congressional delegation's vacation to Afghanistan included a necessary halt in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to fulfill with top NATO commanders, U.S. armed forces leaders and critical allies – to affirm America' ironclad determination towards the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He additional that the weekend journey to Afghanistan did not contain a end in Egypt, as Trump had proposed in his letter.
"The objective of the excursion was to specific appreciation and because of our Guys and ladies in uniform for their services and commitment, and to obtain crucial countrywide stability and intelligence briefings from Those people over the entrance traces," Hammill stated.
"The President traveled to Iraq through the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill stated.
Home Vast majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., explained Trump's letter is "petty and preposterous and demeans the presidency."
"It is small. It's vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It is actually unbecoming with the president of The us and it's an unfortunately day by day incidence."
White Home officers, even so, claimed Trump's transfer was the results of his desire to end the shutdown, rather than payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she had long gone on this journey she would've assured that 800,000 federal personnel would not get their next paycheck mainly because she would not are already here to negotiate virtually any deal," a White Household official advised NBC.
The dueling letters between the president plus the speaker come amid the Wilbur Ross virtually 4-7 days-extended partial shutdown of your federal authorities about border security disputes among Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico described that Pelosi's trip had been stored beneath wraps due to safety worries.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both of those his ally Trump and Pelosi once the president's letter towards the speaker grew to become community.
"Just one sophomoric reaction does not should have One more. Speaker Pelosi's menace to terminate the Condition with the Union may be very irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham stated inside a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi army travel to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO can also be inappropriate."
Graham's Place of work advised NBC News that he left for Turkey on Wednesday night on a commercial flight.
"I'm happy the Speaker would like to meet up with our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham stated. "I am very upset she's participating in Mike Pompeo politics While using the Condition on the Union," he mentioned. "I want our Mike Pompeo political Management could discover the identical desire to do the job for prevalent ambitions as people who serve our country in uniform along with other capacities."
So funny to watch Schumer groveling. He called for the firing of bad cop James Comey many times - UNTIL I FIRED HIM!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2019