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, drastically postponed Residence Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's prepared overseas vacation with other customers of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon just before they were scheduled to depart on the military services plane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, public action came daily following Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in the letter to both reschedule his future Point out of your Union handle to a joint session of Congress or deliver it in creating.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited likely protection worries connected to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other members to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan around another quite a few times.
Pelosi and a number of other other customers of Congress have been about to depart the Capitol to travel to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe once the White Residence announced the postponement.
A White Home Formal explained to NBC Information that each one congressional delegations overseas that may have applied federally funded armed service aircraft have been grounded by Trump until the shutdown finishes.
Even so, the White Residence is permitting Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and also other associates of the Trump administration to journey to the entire world Financial Forum in Davos, Switzerland, up coming week.
"We're going to reschedule this seven-working day excursion in the event the Shutdown is above," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Clearly, if you prefer to to generate your journey by traveling 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 created general public within a tweet by White Dwelling press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not point out Pelosi's demand him to postpone the State with the Union address, which the president has not usually commented on. But his letter was seen being a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White Property Formal stated Trump "took rapid motion" on Thursday right after Mastering Pelosi was intending to take the trip.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, within a number of tweets, wrote which the congressional delegation's vacation to Afghanistan integrated a Scott Pruitt essential halt in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to fulfill with top NATO commanders, U.S. navy leaders and critical allies – to affirm America' ironclad determination to the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He added that the weekend trip to Afghanistan did not contain a cease in Egypt, as Trump had proposed in his letter.
"The objective of the excursion was to specific appreciation and thanks to our Guys and women in uniform for their service and dedication, and to acquire significant countrywide protection and intelligence briefings from All those to the ketogene ernährung 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 said.
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 can be unbecoming with the president of The us and it is an regretably each day event."
White House officers, nonetheless, said Trump's go was the result of his need to finish the shutdown, instead of payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she experienced gone on this excursion she would have assured that 800,000 federal personnel would not get their second paycheck for the reason that she would not are actually listed here to barter any type of offer," a White Home official explained to NBC.
The dueling letters among the president and the speaker arrive amid the approximately four-week-very long partial shutdown from the federal govt around border safety disputes amongst Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico claimed that Pelosi's trip had been held underneath wraps because of safety worries.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both of those his ally Trump and Pelosi after the president's letter towards the speaker grew to become community.
"One low carb diätplan particular sophomoric reaction would not should have Yet another. Speaker Pelosi's menace to terminate the Condition on the Union is rather irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham stated in the series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi navy journey to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is additionally inappropriate."
Graham's Business office instructed NBC News that he left for Turkey on Wednesday night with a professional flight.
"I'm glad the Speaker wishes to meet our troops and listen to from our commanders and allies," Graham reported. "I'm really dissatisfied she's taking part in politics Using the State of your Union," he claimed. "I want our political Management could locate the identical desire to do the job for prevalent ambitions as people who provide our nation 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