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 government shutdown, radically postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned abroad trip with other users of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon ahead of they had been scheduled to depart with a armed forces airplane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, public action arrived each day immediately after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in the letter to possibly reschedule his upcoming Condition of your Union address into a joint session of Congress or produce it in crafting.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited prospective stability issues connected with the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other users to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan above the subsequent quite a few times.
Pelosi and several other members of Congress had been about to depart the Capitol to generate to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe once the White Household declared the postponement.
A White Dwelling Formal explained to NBC Information that every one congressional delegations abroad that may have made use of federally funded military plane have been grounded by Trump until the shutdown ends.
Nevertheless, the White Home is enabling Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin together with other customers on the Trump administration to journey to the entire world Economic Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, future 7 days.
"We'll reschedule this 7-working day excursion in the event the Shutdown is about," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Definitely, if you want to to produce your journey by flying business, that would certainly 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 produced general public in the tweet by White Home push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not mention Pelosi's demand him to postpone the State of the Union tackle, which the president hasn't normally commented on. But his letter was observed to be a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White Dwelling official reported Trump "took quick motion" on Thursday right after Studying Pelosi was intending to take the excursion.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, in a series of tweets, wrote which the congressional delegation's trip to Afghanistan provided a required end in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with top rated NATO commanders, U.S. army leaders and essential allies – to affirm America' ironclad commitment on the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He included that the weekend journey to Afghanistan did not involve a stop in Egypt, as Trump had proposed in his letter.
"The goal of the vacation was to express appreciation and thanks to our Gentlemen and ladies in uniform for his or her company and dedication, and to obtain vital nationwide protection and intelligence briefings from All those over the entrance strains," Hammill said.
"The President traveled to Iraq through the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill explained.
Property The vast majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., claimed Trump's letter is "petty and preposterous and demeans the presidency."
"It can be compact. It is really vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It is actually unbecoming of your president of America and it's an sadly every day occurrence."
White House officers, having said that, claimed Trump's go was the result of his desire to close the shutdown, rather than payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she experienced long gone on this journey she would have confirmed that 800,000 federal staff would not acquire their 2nd paycheck due to the fact she would not have been below to negotiate any kind of offer," a White Home Formal advised NBC.
The dueling letters in between the president as well as speaker appear amid the almost 4-week-extensive partial shutdown in Betsy DeVos the federal government about border safety disputes concerning Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico documented that Pelosi's vacation had been retained below wraps as a consequence of safety problems.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized the two his ally Trump and Pelosi once the president's letter towards the speaker grew to become general public.
"1 sophomoric response won't should have A different. Speaker Pelosi's threat to cancel the Condition of your Union is extremely irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham claimed inside of a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi armed forces journey to go to our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is also inappropriate."
Graham's Place of work instructed NBC Information that he remaining for Turkey on Wednesday night time on a commercial flight.
"I am glad the Speaker would like to meet our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham claimed. "I'm pretty disappointed she's taking part in politics With all the Condition on the Union," he explained. "I would like our political Management could locate the same want to work for typical objectives as those that serve our country in uniform and 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