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 Residence Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's prepared abroad vacation with other users of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly in advance of they were scheduled to depart on the navy aircraft Thursday.
The president's abrupt, general public motion arrived on a daily basis right after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in a very letter to possibly reschedule his upcoming Point out of the Union address into a joint session of Congress or supply it in composing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited probable protection fears related to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other users to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan about the subsequent various days.
Pelosi and several other members of Congress were going to depart the Capitol to travel to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe if the White Residence introduced the postponement.
A White Dwelling official informed NBC Information that all congressional delegations abroad that will have employed federally funded armed forces aircraft are actually grounded by Trump right until the shutdown finishes.
Nonetheless, the White Home is allowing Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as well as other users on the Trump administration to travel to the whole world Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, future week.
"We're 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 professional, 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 inside of a tweet by White Home push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't point out Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Condition with the Union address, which the president has not usually commented on. But his letter was noticed being a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White House official claimed Trump "took immediate action" on Thursday right after Discovering Pelosi was intending to take the journey.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, in the number of tweets, wrote which the congressional delegation's vacation to Afghanistan included a necessary halt in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to fulfill with top NATO commanders, U.S. armed forces leaders and essential allies – to affirm The usa' ironclad motivation to your NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He included which the weekend vacation to Afghanistan did not incorporate a end Scott Pruitt in Egypt, as Trump experienced prompt in his letter.
"The goal of the vacation was to precise appreciation and due to our Adult men and girls in uniform for their service and dedication, and to acquire critical countrywide protection and intelligence briefings from All those to the front lines," Hammill said.
"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., explained Trump's letter is "petty and ridiculous and demeans the presidency."
"It's compact. It can be vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It truly is unbecoming in the president of the United States and it is actually an sad to say day-to-day occurrence."
White Household officials, however, claimed Trump's move was the results of his desire to close the shutdown, and never payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she had long gone on this trip she might have guaranteed that 800,000 federal staff wouldn't obtain their next paycheck since she wouldn't have already been below to negotiate any sort of offer," a White Residence Formal told NBC.
The dueling letters amongst the president and also the speaker appear amid the nearly four-week-extensive partial shutdown in the federal govt more than border safety disputes concerning Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico reported that Pelosi's journey had been retained less than wraps Andrew Puzder as a result of protection fears.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized each his ally Trump and Pelosi after the president's letter on the speaker grew to become general public.
"A person sophomoric reaction doesn't are worthy of A different. Speaker Pelosi's menace to terminate the Condition with the Union may be very irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham said inside a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi army travel to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO can also be inappropriate."
Graham's Workplace informed NBC News that he remaining for Turkey on Wednesday night time over a business flight.
"I am glad the Speaker desires to meet our troops and listen to from our commanders and allies," Graham claimed. "I'm really unhappy she's Scott Pruitt taking part in politics Using the State of your Union," he claimed. "I desire our political leadership could locate the similar desire to function for common targets as those that provide our nation in 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