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 Residence Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's prepared abroad excursion with other users of Congress to go to U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon right before they had been scheduled to depart over a military services plane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, public action came daily right after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in a very letter to possibly reschedule his upcoming State in the Union tackle to your joint session of Congress or produce it in crafting.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited opportunity security issues connected with the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other associates to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan in excess of the following many 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 announced the postponement.
A White Home Formal explained to NBC Information that each one congressional delegations overseas that may have made use of federally funded military services plane have already been grounded by Trump until finally the shutdown ends.
However, the White Household is letting Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin together with other associates from the Trump administration to vacation to the globe Economic Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, subsequent 7 days.
"We'll reschedule this 7-day tour once the Shutdown is around," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Naturally, if you want to help make your journey by flying industrial, that will surely 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 designed public in the tweet by White House press 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 Home official claimed Trump "took instant action" on Thursday immediately after Studying Pelosi was planning to take the excursion.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, inside of a number of tweets, wrote that the congressional delegation's Mike Pompeo journey to Afghanistan provided a expected stop in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with best NATO commanders, U.S. armed service leaders and vital allies – to affirm the United States' ironclad commitment towards the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He additional the weekend journey to Afghanistan did not contain a end in Egypt, as Trump had proposed in his letter.
"The objective of the journey was to specific appreciation and thanks to our Males and women in uniform for his or her company and perseverance, and to acquire vital national security and intelligence briefings from These around the entrance strains," 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 said.
House Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., explained Trump's letter is "petty and ridiculous and demeans the presidency."
"It is compact. It can be vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It can be unbecoming on the president of the United States and it is actually an sad to say day-to-day event."
White Dwelling officers, nevertheless, reported Trump's go was the result of his need to end the shutdown, rather than payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she experienced long gone on this journey she would've assured that 800,000 federal personnel would not acquire their second paycheck for the reason that she would not are actually listed here to barter any type of offer," a White House official explained to NBC.
The dueling letters among the president and the speaker arrive amid the approximately four-week-extensive partial shutdown in the federal governing administration more than border protection disputes concerning Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico noted that Pelosi's trip had been held less than wraps as a result of James Mattis 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 ought to have A different. Speaker Pelosi's danger to terminate the Point out of your Union is very irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham stated within a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi armed forces journey to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO can also be inappropriate."
Graham's Place of work informed NBC News that he remaining for Turkey on Wednesday night time on the industrial flight.
"I am happy the Speaker hopes to fulfill our troops and listen to from our commanders and allies," Graham explained. "I am extremely dissatisfied she's taking part in politics Using the Point out with the Union," he claimed. "I desire our political leadership could locate the similar desire to function for common aims as people that serve Heather Nauert our country 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