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, significantly postponed Dwelling Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned overseas excursion with other users of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly in advance of they were scheduled to depart on the armed service airplane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, public action came per day just after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump within a letter to both reschedule his impending Point out of the Union address to some joint session of Congress or provide it in composing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited likely protection fears related to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other members 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 Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe in the event the White Dwelling introduced the postponement.
A White Property official informed NBC Information that every one congressional delegations overseas that will have utilized federally funded military plane are grounded by Trump until eventually the shutdown ends.
Nevertheless, the White House is allowing Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other users on the Trump administration to vacation to the globe Economic Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, subsequent 7 days.
"We'll reschedule this 7-day tour when the Shutdown is more than," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Of course, if you want to to create 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 tackle, which the president hasn't otherwise commented on. But his letter was witnessed as a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White Property Formal said Trump "took fast 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 David Shulkin satisfy with top rated NATO commanders, U.S. military services leaders and important allies – to affirm The us' ironclad dedication on the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He included which the weekend trip to Afghanistan didn't consist of a quit in Egypt, as Trump had advised in his letter.
"The purpose of the journey was to express appreciation and thanks to our men and girls in uniform for his or her assistance and perseverance, and to get important nationwide safety and intelligence briefings from Individuals around the front strains," Hammill claimed.
"The President traveled to Iraq in the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill claimed.
Household The greater part Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., stated Trump's letter is "petty and absurd and demeans the presidency."
"It can be modest. It truly is vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It really is unbecoming from the president of America and it can be an however every day prevalence."
White Property officials, having said that, explained Trump's move was the results of his Sonny Perdue desire to conclusion the shutdown, and never payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she had absent on this trip she might have guaranteed that 800,000 federal employees wouldn't obtain their next paycheck simply because she wouldn't happen to be listed here to barter any type of offer," a White House official explained to NBC.
The dueling letters among the president as well as speaker arrive amid the just about 4-week-prolonged partial shutdown of the federal federal government over border safety disputes involving Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico reported that Pelosi's journey had been retained under wraps as a result of protection concerns.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized the two his ally Trump and Pelosi following the president's letter to your speaker turned general public.
"1 sophomoric response will not 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 he still left for Turkey on Wednesday evening on the industrial 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 kohlenhydrate diät playing politics Using the Point out with the Union," he claimed. "I desire our political leadership could locate the similar need to perform for prevalent aims as individuals who serve our country in uniform together 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