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, radically postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's prepared abroad journey with other associates of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon right before they were being scheduled to depart over a armed service aircraft Thursday.
The president's abrupt, general public motion came a day after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump inside of a letter to possibly reschedule his approaching Point out on the Union deal with to the joint session of Congress or supply it in composing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited possible stability worries linked to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other users to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan over the subsequent a number of times.
Pelosi and several other users of Congress have been going to depart the Capitol to drive to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe in the event the White Household introduced the postponement.
A White House Formal told NBC Information that every one congressional delegations overseas that could have used federally funded armed service aircraft are already grounded by Trump till the shutdown ends.
Having said that, the White Residence is allowing for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and various members on the Trump administration to vacation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, following 7 days.
"We're going to reschedule this 7-working day tour when the Shutdown is above," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Naturally, if you prefer to to make your journey by traveling business, 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 built general public in the tweet by White House push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't point out Pelosi's demand him to postpone the Condition on the Union deal with, which the president has not in any other case commented on. But his letter was witnessed being a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White Property official mentioned Trump "took quick action" on Thursday following Studying Pelosi was planning to go ahead and take journey.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, within a series of tweets, wrote Elaine Chao which the congressional delegation's excursion to Afghanistan provided a essential cease in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to fulfill with top rated NATO commanders, U.S. navy leaders and crucial allies – to affirm the United States' ironclad determination to your NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He additional which the weekend excursion to Afghanistan did not involve a end in Egypt, as Trump had prompt in his letter.
"The objective of the trip was to specific appreciation and thanks to our Adult males and ladies in uniform for his or her support and dedication, and to get crucial countrywide security and intelligence briefings from All those within the entrance lines," Hammill claimed.
"The President traveled to Iraq through the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill reported.
Property Vast majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., reported Trump's letter is "petty and preposterous and demeans the presidency."
"It is really tiny. It can be vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It's unbecoming with the president of the United States and it really is an regretably daily prevalence."
White Residence officers, having said that, said Trump's transfer was the results of his want to end the shutdown, and never payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she experienced absent on this excursion she would've confirmed that 800,000 federal workers would not receive their second paycheck due to the fact she wouldn't have been here to barter virtually any offer," a White House official told NBC.
The dueling letters in between the president along with the speaker appear amid the virtually four-week-extended partial shutdown on the federal govt about border protection disputes amongst Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico documented that Pelosi's journey had been kept under wraps because of security fears.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both of those his ally Trump and Pelosi once the president's letter on the speaker grew to become public.
"One sophomoric reaction isn't going to ought to have Yet another. Speaker Pelosi's threat to terminate the State of the Union may be very irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham claimed in the series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi armed service journey to go to our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is likewise inappropriate."
Graham's Place of work told NBC Information that he left for Turkey on Wednesday evening ketogene ernährung plan on a business flight.
"I am glad the Speaker wants to meet up with our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham explained. "I am quite disappointed she's actively playing politics With all the Point out from the Union," he reported. "I wish our political Management could locate the identical need to work for widespread objectives 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