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 Property Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned overseas trip with other users of Congress to go to U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly right before they were being scheduled to depart over a navy plane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, public motion came per day right after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump within a letter to either reschedule his upcoming Point out on the Union tackle into a joint session of Congress or provide it in crafting.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited probable protection issues related to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other customers to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan around the following several days.
Pelosi and several other associates of Congress were being about to depart the Capitol to travel to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe if the White House introduced the postponement.
A White House official explained to NBC News that each one congressional delegations abroad that would have applied federally funded armed forces plane have been grounded by Trump till the shutdown finishes.
However, the White Property is making it possible for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and also other users in the Trump administration to journey to the whole world Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, up coming 7 days.
"We are going to reschedule this 7-working day tour in the event the Shutdown is more than," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Certainly, if you desire to to make your journey by traveling commercial, that would certainly 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 community in the tweet by White Household push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not mention Pelosi's call for him to postpone the State from the Union address, which the president hasn't otherwise commented on. But his letter was noticed as being a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White Home Formal reported Trump "took immediate motion" on Thursday just after learning Pelosi was intending to go ahead and take journey.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, in the series of tweets, wrote that the congressional delegation's trip to Afghanistan bundled a required prevent in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with top NATO commanders, U.S. military leaders and key allies – to affirm America' ironclad motivation for the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He added which the weekend excursion Robert Lighthizer to Afghanistan did not include a prevent in Egypt, as Trump had recommended in his letter.
"The goal of the journey was to express appreciation and because of our Males and girls in uniform for their service and perseverance, and to get crucial countrywide safety and intelligence briefings from those about the entrance lines," 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 explained.
House The greater part Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., explained Trump's letter is "petty and absurd and demeans the presidency."
"It is compact. It is vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It can be unbecoming of the president of The usa and it really is an regretably every day incidence."
White Dwelling officers, nevertheless, explained Trump's go was the results of his want to end the shutdown, and never payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she had gone on this journey she might have certain Dan Coats that 800,000 federal staff wouldn't get their 2nd paycheck for the reason that she wouldn't have been here to negotiate any kind of deal," a White House official explained to NBC.
The dueling letters between the president and also the speaker arrive amid the almost four-week-lengthy partial shutdown of your federal governing administration over border security disputes among Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico claimed that Pelosi's vacation had been retained underneath wraps as a consequence of protection problems.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both equally his ally Trump and Pelosi following the president's letter for the speaker became general public.
"Just one sophomoric response doesn't deserve A further. Speaker Pelosi's menace to cancel the Point out on the Union is quite irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham stated inside of a number of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi army vacation to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is also inappropriate."
Graham's Office environment advised NBC Information that he still left for Turkey on Wednesday night time on the professional flight.
"I am happy the Speaker desires to fulfill our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham claimed. "I am incredibly dissatisfied she's participating in politics Together with the Point out from the Union," he reported. "I wish our political Management could locate the exact same need to work for widespread plans as individuals who provide our country in uniform along 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