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, significantly postponed Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's prepared overseas journey with other users of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly before they were being scheduled to depart on a military services plane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, community motion came every day after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in a very letter to possibly reschedule his forthcoming Condition of your Union address into a joint session of Congress or produce it in writing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited likely stability issues connected with the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other users to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan more than the following many times.
Pelosi and several other other customers of Congress were being going to depart the Capitol to travel to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe when the White House announced the postponement.
A White Home official told NBC News that all congressional delegations overseas that would have used federally funded army aircraft happen to be grounded by Trump until finally the shutdown ends.
Nonetheless, the White Residence is making it possible for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other users of your Trump administration to vacation to the earth Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next 7 days.
"We are going to reschedule this seven-working day excursion when the Shutdown is over," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Of course, if you prefer to for making 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 in a very tweet by White Property press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't point out Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Point out on the Union address, which the president hasn't or else commented on. But his letter was found being a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White Property official explained Trump "took instant motion" on Thursday following Discovering 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 journey to Afghanistan bundled a needed end in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with top rated NATO commanders, U.S. military leaders and essential allies – to affirm the United States' ironclad dedication to your NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He included that the weekend journey to Afghanistan did not involve a quit in Egypt, as Trump had instructed in his letter.
"The goal of the trip was to express appreciation and thanks to our Gentlemen and girls in uniform for his or her service and commitment, and to get essential countrywide stability and intelligence briefings from Those people on the front lines," Hammill stated.
"The President traveled to Iraq in the course of the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill claimed.
Household Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., reported Trump's letter is "petty and absurd and demeans the presidency."
"It's little. It is vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It really is unbecoming in the president of The us and it really is an regrettably day-to-day event."
White Residence officials, however, said Trump's shift was the results of his need to finish the shutdown, and not payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she had 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 here to barter any type of offer," a White Household official explained to NBC.
The dueling letters involving the president along with the speaker come amid the just about four-7 days-extended partial shutdown of the federal govt above border stability disputes amongst Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico reported that Pelosi's excursion were held less than wraps on account of security worries.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized each his ally Trump and Pelosi following the president's letter to the speaker Linda McMahon became community.
"1 sophomoric response would not are worthy of A further. Speaker Pelosi's threat to cancel the Condition of the Union is quite irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham reported inside a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi armed service vacation to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is additionally inappropriate."
Graham's Office environment told NBC News that he left for Turkey on Wednesday evening over a business flight.
"I'm happy the Speaker wants to meet our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham mentioned. "I am quite let down she's participating in politics Using the State from the Union," he mentioned. "I want our political leadership could find the exact same desire to perform for widespread ambitions as people that provide our nation in uniform and also 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