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, drastically postponed Property Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned overseas trip with other customers of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon right before they were being scheduled to depart on the armed forces airplane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, public action came daily soon after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in a letter to both reschedule his impending State on the Union handle to some joint session of Congress or supply it in crafting.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited likely protection concerns connected with the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other customers to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan over the next numerous 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 in the event the White Home announced the postponement.
A White Home official informed NBC News that all congressional delegations overseas that will have employed federally funded armed forces aircraft have been grounded by Trump till the shutdown ends.
However, the White House is permitting Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and also other associates of the Trump administration to vacation to the earth Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, future 7 days.
"We'll reschedule this 7-working day excursion in the event the Shutdown is about," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Naturally, if you want to to create your journey by traveling business, 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 produced general public within a tweet by White Home push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not point out Pelosi's demand him to postpone the Condition of the Union tackle, which the president hasn't normally commented on. But his letter was noticed to be a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White Alex Azar Dwelling official claimed Trump "took quick motion" on Thursday following Discovering Pelosi was planning to go ahead and take vacation.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, within a number of tweets, wrote that the congressional delegation's journey to Afghanistan bundled a necessary prevent in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to satisfy with top rated NATO commanders, U.S. army leaders and critical 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 advised in his letter.
"The objective of the vacation was to express appreciation and thanks to our Gentlemen and ladies in uniform for his or her company and dedication, and to obtain vital nationwide protection and intelligence briefings from All those on the entrance strains," Hammill said.
"The President traveled to Iraq through the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill explained.
Property The greater part Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., claimed Trump's letter is "petty and preposterous and demeans the presidency."
"It truly is smaller. It can be vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It can be unbecoming of your president of America and it can be an sad to say each day incidence."
White Property officials, nevertheless, said Trump's shift was the results of his desire to end the shutdown, instead of payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she experienced long gone on this journey she would have confirmed that 800,000 federal employees wouldn't get their second paycheck because she wouldn't are already right here to barter any sort of deal," a White Dwelling official explained to NBC.
The dueling letters amongst the president as well as the speaker occur amid the virtually four-week-long partial shutdown with the federal federal government over border protection disputes between Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico described that Pelosi's trip were saved beneath wraps due to safety fears.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized equally his ally Trump and Pelosi once the president's letter on the speaker turned public.
"One particular sophomoric reaction doesn't are entitled to another. Speaker Pelosi's risk to terminate the Point out of the Union is quite irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham claimed in a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi navy vacation 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 business flight.
"I'm happy the Speaker hopes to fulfill our troops and listen to from our commanders and allies," Graham said. "I'm very disappointed she's taking part in politics Together with the Condition on the Union," he explained. "I desire our political leadership could find the exact same desire to function for frequent targets as people who serve our country in uniform and various 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