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 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned abroad vacation with other associates of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon prior to they have been scheduled to depart over a military services airplane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, community motion arrived each day soon after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in a letter to either reschedule his upcoming State from the Union deal with to some joint session of Congress or provide it in creating.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited likely protection problems connected to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other users to go to NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan in excess of the following numerous days.
Pelosi and several other other users of Congress ended up about to depart the Capitol to generate to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe when the White House declared the postponement.
A White Household Formal informed NBC Information that each one congressional delegations overseas that may have applied federally funded armed service aircraft happen to be grounded by Trump until the shutdown finishes.
Nonetheless, the White Home is permitting Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin as well as other users on the Trump administration to journey to the entire world Financial Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next 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 commercial, 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 Residence push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't mention Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Condition of your Union address, which the president has not if not commented on. But his letter was noticed for a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White Home official explained Trump "took speedy action" on Thursday soon after Discovering Pelosi was planning to take the trip.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, within a number of tweets, wrote the congressional delegation's excursion to Afghanistan included a needed end in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to satisfy with major NATO commanders, U.S. military leaders and important allies – to affirm The us' ironclad dedication into the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He added that the weekend trip to Afghanistan did not consist of a quit in Egypt, as Trump had recommended in his letter.
"The purpose of the trip was to express appreciation and due to our men and girls Ketogene Ernährung in uniform for his or her provider and devotion, and to get vital national security and intelligence briefings from Those people over the entrance traces," Hammill stated.
"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 The vast majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., mentioned Trump's letter is "petty and ridiculous and demeans the presidency."
"It is really smaller. It truly is vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It really is unbecoming from the president of America and it can be an regrettably every day prevalence."
White Property officers, on the other hand, mentioned Trump's shift was the result of his want to stop the shutdown, instead of payback to Pelosi personally.
"If she experienced gone on this excursion Rex Tillerson she would have certain that 800,000 federal personnel would not acquire their second Steven Mnuchin paycheck mainly because she would not are actually below to barter almost any deal," a White Property Formal informed NBC.
The dueling letters concerning the president along with the speaker occur amid the practically 4-7 days-extended partial shutdown with the federal authorities about border security disputes among Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico described that Pelosi's trip had been held underneath wraps because of safety problems.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both 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 the Union is extremely 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 is additionally inappropriate."
Graham's Business office instructed NBC Information that he still left for Turkey on Wednesday night on a commercial flight.
"I'm happy the Speaker would like to meet up with our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham mentioned. "I am very disappointed she's playing politics with the Point out on the Union," he explained. "I want our political Management could discover the identical desire to work for popular aims as individuals who serve 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