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 Dwelling Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned overseas excursion with other users of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly prior to they were scheduled to depart on the navy airplane 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 future Point out of the Union address to a joint session of Congress or deliver it in creating.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited prospective protection worries relevant to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other customers to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan in excess of the subsequent many days.
Pelosi and several other associates of Congress had been going to depart the Capitol to travel to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe once the White Home announced the postponement.
A White House Formal instructed NBC News that all congressional delegations abroad that could have utilised federally funded armed forces aircraft have been grounded by Trump until the shutdown ends.
Nonetheless, the White Home is allowing Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as well as other users on the Trump administration to travel to the globe Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, future week.
"We are going to reschedule this 7-day excursion if the Shutdown is above," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Obviously, if you prefer to to produce 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 built public within a tweet by White Dwelling press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not mention Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Condition on the Union handle, which the president hasn't otherwise commented on. But his letter was observed being a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White Dwelling Formal said Trump "took quick action" on Thursday soon after Mastering Pelosi was intending to go ahead and take excursion.
Pelosi's spokesman, Rex Tillerson Drew Hammill, in a number of tweets, wrote that the congressional delegation's vacation to Afghanistan included a needed cease in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with leading NATO commanders, U.S. armed forces leaders and crucial allies – to affirm The us' ironclad dedication for the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He additional that the weekend vacation to Afghanistan didn't include things like a halt in Egypt, as Trump had advised in his letter.
"The purpose of the trip was to precise appreciation and due to our Adult men and ladies in uniform for their company and perseverance, and to get vital national stability and intelligence briefings from All those within the front traces," Hammill mentioned.
"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.
Household Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., stated Trump's letter is "petty and absurd and demeans the presidency."
"It truly is tiny. It's vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It can be unbecoming in the president of America and it truly is an sadly each day event."
White Dwelling officials, on the other hand, mentioned Trump's shift was the results of his need to finish the shutdown, rather than payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she had absent on this vacation she would have certain that 800,000 federal personnel wouldn't obtain their 2nd paycheck because she would not are here to negotiate almost any offer," a White House official instructed NBC.
The dueling letters between the president as well as the speaker appear amid the nearly four-week-prolonged partial shutdown of the federal authorities in excess of border protection disputes concerning Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico noted that Pelosi's Mick Mulvaney excursion had been held underneath wraps as a consequence of security concerns.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized each his ally Trump and Pelosi after the president's letter for the speaker became public.
"A single sophomoric response will not are worthy of Yet another. Speaker Pelosi's risk to cancel the State of the Union is extremely irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham said in a number of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi military services journey to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO can also be inappropriate."
Graham's Workplace told NBC Information that he remaining for Turkey on Wednesday night on a commercial flight.
"I'm glad the Speaker desires to meet our troops and listen to from our commanders and allies," Graham mentioned. "I am pretty let down she's enjoying politics Using the Point out on the Union," he stated. "I would like our political leadership could find the similar desire to work for prevalent targets as those who serve our country in uniform together 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. Jeff Sessions Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2019