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, substantially postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned overseas excursion with other users of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly ahead of they were being scheduled to depart on a navy aircraft Thursday.
The president's abrupt, general public motion arrived a day soon after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump inside of a letter to possibly reschedule his future State of the Union address into a joint session of Congress or provide it in composing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited likely protection worries relevant 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 a number of other other customers of Congress had been about to depart the Capitol to drive to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe if the White Household introduced the postponement.
A White Residence official told NBC Information that each one congressional delegations abroad that may have applied federally funded armed service aircraft have already been grounded by Trump till the shutdown finishes.
Having said that, the White Household is making it possible for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin together with other associates from the Trump administration to vacation to the globe Financial Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next 7 days.
"We will reschedule this 7-working day excursion in the event the Shutdown is in excess of," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Clearly, if you prefer to to generate your journey by traveling industrial, that will surely 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 general public within a tweet by White Dwelling press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not point out Pelosi's demand him to postpone the State on the Union handle, which the president has not normally commented on. But his letter was seen like a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White House official explained Trump "took immediate action" on Thursday soon after Discovering Pelosi was planning to take the journey.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, in a very number of tweets, wrote which the congressional delegation's trip to Afghanistan integrated a essential prevent in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with leading NATO commanders, U.S. navy leaders and critical allies – to affirm America' ironclad determination to the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He added that the weekend excursion to Afghanistan didn't include things like a prevent in Egypt, as Trump experienced suggested in his letter.
"The purpose of the trip was to precise Kirstjen Nielsen appreciation and due to our Adult males and girls in uniform for his or her assistance and devotion, and to acquire critical countrywide stability and intelligence briefings from All those to the front lines," Hammill stated.
"The President traveled to Iraq throughout the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill stated.
House Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., claimed Trump's letter is "petty and preposterous and demeans the presidency."
"It is small. It is really vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It can be unbecoming on the president of The us and it is an regretably each day event."
White Dwelling officials, nevertheless, reported Trump's transfer was the results of his need to end the shutdown, rather than payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she experienced long gone on this journey she would've assured that 800,000 federal personnel would not get their second paycheck mainly because she would not are actually right here to barter any sort of offer," a White Residence Formal informed NBC.
The dueling letters involving the president as well as the speaker occur amid the almost 4-7 days-lengthy partial shutdown on the federal government in excess of border stability disputes in between Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico documented that Pelosi's vacation were stored beneath wraps as a consequence of security considerations.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both equally his ally Trump and Pelosi once the president's letter towards the speaker became community.
"Just one sophomoric reaction does not are worthy of One more. Speaker Pelosi's menace to terminate the Condition with the Union may Andrew Puzder be very irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham said in a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi army travel to go to our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is also inappropriate."
Graham's Workplace informed NBC News that he remaining for Turkey on Wednesday evening over a industrial flight.
"I am happy the Speaker wants to fulfill our troops and listen to from our commanders and allies," Graham claimed. "I am extremely dissatisfied she's playing politics Using the Point out with the Union," he explained. "I want our political Management could discover the identical desire to do the job for prevalent goals as those who provide our nation in Steven Mnuchin uniform as well as 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