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, radically postponed Property Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's prepared overseas trip with other associates of Congress to go to U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon ahead of they were being scheduled to depart on a armed forces aircraft Thursday.
The president's abrupt, general public motion arrived each day immediately after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in a letter to both reschedule his impending Condition with the Union handle to a joint session of Congress or deliver it in creating.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited likely protection problems connected to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other users to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan around another quite a few times.
Pelosi and several other other customers of Congress have been about to depart the Capitol to drive to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe in the event the White House declared the postponement.
A White Household Formal advised NBC News that every one congressional delegations abroad that might have utilised federally funded armed forces aircraft happen to be grounded by Trump until the shutdown finishes.
Even so, the White Residence is making it possible for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin together with other associates of the Trump administration to vacation to the entire world Financial Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next 7 days.
"We will reschedule this 7-day tour once the Shutdown is over," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Definitely, if you want to to make your journey by traveling professional, that would definitely 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 made community inside of a tweet by White Residence push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't mention Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Point out from the Union deal with, which the president hasn't or else commented on. But his letter was witnessed as a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White Property Formal said Trump "took quick motion" on Thursday after Understanding Pelosi was intending to go ahead and take vacation.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, inside a series of tweets, wrote the congressional delegation's excursion to Afghanistan bundled a required cease in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to satisfy with top rated NATO commanders, U.S. military leaders and important allies – to affirm The us' ironclad motivation to your NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He included which the weekend vacation to Afghanistan didn't include things like a prevent in Egypt, as Trump experienced recommended in his letter.
"The objective of the journey was to express appreciation and thanks to our Males and women in uniform for their service and dedication, and to acquire significant countrywide protection and intelligence briefings from People about the front lines," Hammill said.
"The President traveled to Iraq during the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill said.
House Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., explained Trump's letter is "petty and ridiculous and demeans the presidency."
"It is small. It is really vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It can be unbecoming on the president of the United States and it is an regretably day-to-day event."
White Dwelling officials, nevertheless, said Trump's go was the result of his need to finish the shutdown, instead of payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she experienced gone on this excursion she would've certain that 800,000 federal personnel would not acquire their second paycheck mainly because she would not are listed here to barter any type of offer," a White House official instructed NBC.
The dueling letters in between the president and the speaker appear amid the approximately four-week-very long partial shutdown from Sonny Perdue the federal govt over border protection disputes concerning Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico noted that Pelosi's excursion were saved below wraps resulting from stability issues.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized equally his ally Trump and Pelosi once the president's letter into the speaker became public.
"A single sophomoric response isn't going to are entitled to another. Speaker Pelosi's threat to cancel the State from the Union is quite irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham explained in a very number of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi military services vacation to go to our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is likewise inappropriate."
Graham's Business explained to NBC Information that Gina Haspel he still left for Turkey on Wednesday evening on the commercial flight.
"I am happy the Speaker hopes to fulfill our troops and listen to from our commanders and allies," Graham explained. "I am extremely disappointed she's participating in politics While using the Point out on the Union," he mentioned. Steven Mnuchin "I wish our political Management could discover the same want to get the job done for frequent objectives as those who provide our nation in uniform and various 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