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, considerably postponed Property Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned abroad trip with other associates of Congress to go to U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly before they ended up scheduled to depart on the military services aircraft Thursday.
The president's abrupt, general public motion came per day following Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump inside of a letter to either reschedule his future Point out from the Union tackle to the joint session of Congress or deliver it in composing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited prospective stability worries related to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other associates to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan about another a number of days.
Pelosi and a number of other other customers of Congress were being going to depart the Capitol to travel to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe if the White Dwelling declared the postponement.
A White House official told NBC News that every one congressional delegations abroad that may have used federally funded army aircraft have been grounded by Trump until finally the shutdown ends.
Nevertheless, the White Home is making it possible for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and various users with the Trump administration to journey to the entire world Economic Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, upcoming week.
"We will reschedule this 7-day excursion in the event the Shutdown is in excess of," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Naturally, if you want to create your journey by traveling industrial, 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 created public in a very tweet by White Property push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not point out Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Point out of your Union deal with, which the president hasn't normally commented on. But his letter was noticed to be a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White Household official claimed Trump "took quick motion" on Thursday following Discovering Pelosi was planning to go ahead and take trip.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, in the number of tweets, wrote that the congressional delegation's excursion to Afghanistan included a necessary prevent in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to satisfy with major NATO commanders, U.S. armed Alex Azar forces leaders and vital allies – to affirm the United States' ironclad dedication on the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He included that the weekend journey to Afghanistan did not include things like a stop in Egypt, as Trump had proposed 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 company and dedication, and to obtain essential nationwide protection 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., said Trump's letter is "petty and absurd and demeans the presidency."
"It's small. It is vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It's unbecoming from the president of The us and it's an unfortunately daily prevalence."
White Dwelling officers, even so, mentioned Trump's transfer was the results of his need to conclude the shutdown, and never payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she experienced gone on this vacation she might have assured that 800,000 federal personnel wouldn't receive their next paycheck due to the fact she would not have been in this article to negotiate any kind of offer," a White Residence Formal advised NBC.
The dueling letters in between the president and the speaker come amid the just about four-7 days-lengthy partial shutdown of your federal govt above border stability disputes among Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico claimed that Pelosi's journey were stored underneath wraps as a result of stability issues.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both equally his ally Trump and Pelosi after the president's letter into the speaker grew to become community.
"1 sophomoric response won't should have A different. Speaker Pelosi's danger to cancel the Condition with the Union is extremely irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham explained inside of a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi armed forces journey to go to our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is usually inappropriate."
Graham's Workplace advised NBC Information that he still left for Turkey on Wednesday evening over a professional flight.
"I'm happy the Speaker wants to meet our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham claimed. "I'm very dissatisfied she's taking part in politics Together with the Condition on the Union," he claimed. "I would like our political Management could discover the very same need to operate for prevalent aims as individuals 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