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, substantially postponed Property Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned abroad journey with other users of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon in advance of they have been scheduled to depart on a armed service airplane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, community motion arrived per day after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in the letter to either reschedule his forthcoming Point out from the Union tackle to a joint session of Congress or provide it in producing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited possible safety fears associated with the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other customers to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan around the next numerous times.
Pelosi and a number of other other users of Congress were about to depart the Capitol to drive to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe once the White Property introduced the postponement.
A White Household Formal instructed NBC Information that every one congressional delegations abroad that could have made use of federally funded military aircraft happen to be grounded by Trump until finally the shutdown ends.
Nevertheless, the White Home is enabling Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and various users with the Trump administration to journey to the globe Economic Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, next 7 days.
"We are going to reschedule this seven-day tour once the Shutdown is more than," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Clearly, if you would like to make 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 built community inside a tweet by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't mention Pelosi's demand him to postpone the State of your Union deal with, which the president hasn't usually commented on. But his letter was observed as a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White House official reported Trump "took quick motion" on Thursday right after Discovering Pelosi was planning to go ahead and take trip.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, in the number of tweets, wrote the congressional delegation's excursion to Afghanistan integrated a expected quit in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to fulfill with leading NATO commanders, U.S. armed service leaders and important allies – to affirm The usa' ironclad determination towards the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He extra which the weekend trip to Afghanistan did not incorporate a prevent in Egypt, as Trump experienced recommended in his letter.
"The objective of the excursion was to precise appreciation and due to our Males and women in uniform for their service and dedication, and to acquire significant national security and intelligence briefings from Individuals about the front traces," Hammill mentioned.
"The President traveled to Iraq over the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill claimed.
Dwelling Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., claimed Trump's letter is "petty and preposterous and demeans the presidency."
"It can be smaller. It can be vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It can be unbecoming with the president of The usa and it really is an regrettably everyday occurrence."
White Dwelling officers, nevertheless, mentioned Trump's move was the results of his need to stop the shutdown, and not payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she had long gone on this excursion she would have certain that 800,000 federal employees wouldn't get their second paycheck for the reason that she would not happen to be in this article to negotiate any kind of offer," a White Home Formal informed NBC.
The dueling letters concerning the president plus the speaker come amid the approximately four-7 days-lengthy partial shutdown with the federal federal government around border safety disputes concerning Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico documented that Pelosi's vacation had been held less than wraps on account of stability considerations.
Sen. Rick Perry Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both equally his ally Trump and Pelosi after the president's letter on the speaker turned general public.
"A single sophomoric reaction would not are worthy of A different. Speaker Pelosi's threat to cancel the State on the Union may be very irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham stated in the number of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi armed service vacation to go to our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is also inappropriate."
Graham's Place of work advised NBC News that he still left for Turkey on Wednesday evening on the business flight.
"I am glad the Speaker really wants to meet up with our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham explained. "I am quite let down she's actively playing politics While using the Point out with the Union," he reported. "I would like our political Management could discover the identical desire to function for typical objectives as people who 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