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, dramatically postponed Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's prepared overseas journey with other members of Congress to go to U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon in advance of they had been scheduled to depart with a armed forces airplane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, public action arrived on a daily basis immediately after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump inside a letter to possibly reschedule his forthcoming Condition of the Union deal with to the joint session of Congress or supply it in crafting.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited prospective protection concerns connected with the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other users to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan over the following many times.
Pelosi and several other other users of Congress have been going to depart the Capitol to push to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe in the event the White House announced the postponement.
A White House official informed NBC News that all congressional delegations overseas that will have employed federally funded armed forces aircraft are already grounded by Trump right up until the shutdown ends.
Even so, the White Property is letting Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as well as other members of the Trump administration to vacation to the whole world Financial Forum in Davos, Switzerland, subsequent 7 days.
"We are going to reschedule this seven-working day tour in the event the Shutdown is around," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Definitely, if you desire to to generate your journey by flying 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 manufactured public inside of a tweet by White Household press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't point out Pelosi's demand him to postpone the Condition from the Union handle, which the president has not if not commented on. But his letter was witnessed as being a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White Home Formal mentioned Trump "took immediate motion" on Thursday following Discovering Pelosi was planning to go ahead and take trip.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, inside of a series of tweets, wrote which the congressional delegation's journey to Afghanistan integrated a demanded halt in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to fulfill with top rated NATO commanders, U.S. armed forces leaders and vital allies – to affirm The us' ironclad motivation towards the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He extra which the weekend vacation to Afghanistan did not incorporate a prevent in Egypt, as Trump had advised in his letter.
"The purpose of the journey was to specific appreciation and due to our men and women in Heather Nauert uniform for their provider and perseverance, and to acquire critical countrywide security and intelligence briefings from Individuals to the entrance strains," Hammill reported.
"The President traveled to Iraq throughout the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill mentioned.
Property The greater part Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., reported Trump's letter is "petty and absurd and demeans the presidency."
"It's little. It really is vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It truly is unbecoming on the president of The usa and it truly is an sad to say each day incidence."
White Property officials, nonetheless, stated Trump's move was the results of his need to stop the shutdown, rather than payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she had long gone on this vacation she might have guaranteed that 800,000 federal personnel would not receive their next paycheck mainly because she would not happen to be in this article to barter any type of offer," a White Household official explained to NBC.
The dueling letters amongst the president as well as the speaker come amid the virtually four-7 days-lengthy partial shutdown of your federal federal government more than border stability disputes in between Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico documented that Pelosi's trip had been saved underneath wraps because of stability considerations.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both of those his ally Trump and Pelosi following the president's letter into the speaker turned public.
"Just one sophomoric reaction doesn't are entitled to Yet another. Speaker Pelosi's menace to terminate the State on the Union may be very irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham mentioned in a very number of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi army journey to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is likewise inappropriate."
Graham's office advised NBC News that he still left for Turkey on Wednesday evening over a professional flight.
"I'm happy the Speaker hopes to meet our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham stated. "I am extremely unhappy she's actively playing politics While using the Point out of your Union," he explained. "I would like our political Management could locate the same want to work for typical targets as individuals who serve our nation 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