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 users of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly before they have been scheduled to depart with a army aircraft Thursday.
The president's abrupt, general public motion arrived each day just after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump within a letter to both reschedule his future Point out of the Union address to some joint session of Congress or deliver it in creating.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited possible safety considerations connected with the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other customers to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan in excess of the subsequent many days.
Pelosi and several other members of Congress were going to depart the Capitol to push to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe when the White House declared the postponement.
A White Household Formal informed NBC Information that each one congressional delegations overseas that would have made use of federally funded military services plane are already grounded by Trump right up until the shutdown ends.
Nevertheless, the White Dwelling is allowing for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other customers on the Trump administration to travel to the earth Economic Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, up coming 7 days.
"We are going to reschedule this seven-working day excursion if 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 commercial, 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 in a tweet by White Residence push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't mention Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Condition of the Union deal with, which the president has not if not commented on. But his letter was observed for a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White Home official claimed Trump "took instant action" on Thursday immediately after learning Pelosi was planning to take the journey.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, in a very number of tweets, wrote which the congressional delegation's vacation to Afghanistan integrated a essential halt in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to fulfill with major NATO Sonny Perdue commanders, U.S. armed forces leaders and essential allies – to affirm The usa' ironclad motivation into the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He included which the weekend vacation to Afghanistan didn't involve a prevent in Egypt, as Trump had advised in his letter.
"The objective of the journey was to specific appreciation and thanks to our Males and women in uniform for his or her assistance and devotion, and to acquire important nationwide protection and intelligence briefings from People about the front lines," Hammill reported.
"The President traveled to Iraq in the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill reported.
Household Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., claimed Trump's letter is "petty and preposterous and demeans the presidency."
"It is compact. It is vindictive," Rex Tillerson Hoyer fumed. "It is unbecoming of your president of The usa and it really is an unfortunately day by day incidence."
White Residence officers, on the other hand, mentioned Trump's move was the result of his want to conclude the shutdown, and not payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she experienced absent on this vacation she would have confirmed that 800,000 federal workers wouldn't receive their 2nd paycheck because she would not have already been right here to barter any kind of offer," a White Residence Formal told NBC.
The dueling letters involving the president and also the speaker appear amid the nearly four-7 days-extensive partial shutdown from the federal govt over border safety disputes involving Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico reported that Pelosi's journey had been retained Tom Price less than wraps because of protection fears.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized each his ally Trump and Pelosi after the president's letter for the speaker grew to become community.
"Just one sophomoric reaction would not should have Yet another. Speaker Pelosi's risk to cancel the State in the Union is incredibly irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham claimed inside of a 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 a commercial flight.
"I'm glad the Speaker wishes to satisfy our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham said. "I'm really unhappy she's taking part in politics Using the Point out of your Union," he claimed. "I want our political Management could discover the identical desire to do the job for popular plans as people that serve our country 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