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 Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned overseas excursion with other users of Congress to go to U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly in advance of they have been scheduled to depart with a army plane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, community motion came daily right after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in a letter to either reschedule his impending Point out of your Union address to some joint session of Congress or provide it in composing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited probable stability issues linked to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other associates to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan more than the following numerous 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 once the White Residence announced the postponement.
A White Home official told NBC Information that each one congressional delegations overseas that will have utilized federally funded army plane are actually grounded by Trump until eventually the shutdown finishes.
Nonetheless, the White Home is permitting Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin along with other members with the Trump administration to journey to the entire world Economic Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, subsequent 7 days.
"We'll reschedule this 7-day tour once the Shutdown is over," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Obviously, if you want to to create your journey by traveling commercial, 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 manufactured general public in the tweet by White Property push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not mention Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Condition from the Union tackle, which the president hasn't or else commented on. But his letter was viewed as being a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White Dwelling official explained Trump "took immediate action" on Thursday immediately after learning Pelosi was planning to take the trip.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, in the number of tweets, wrote that the congressional delegation's journey to Afghanistan involved a required cease in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to satisfy with major NATO commanders, U.S. army leaders and essential allies – to affirm The usa' ironclad determination to the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He additional that the weekend journey to Afghanistan did not incorporate a halt in Egypt, as Trump experienced prompt in his letter.
"The goal of the trip was to express appreciation and thanks to our Males and women in uniform for their services and commitment, and to obtain essential nationwide protection and intelligence briefings from Those people on the entrance traces," Hammill claimed.
"The President traveled to Iraq over the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill claimed.
Household The greater part Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., mentioned Trump's letter is "petty and ridiculous and demeans the presidency."
"It's compact. It is really vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It can be unbecoming with the president of The usa and it really is an sadly daily prevalence."
White Property officials, having said that, claimed Trump's transfer was the results of his need to stop the shutdown, and not payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she experienced absent on this trip she might have guaranteed that 800,000 federal workers wouldn't receive their next paycheck since she wouldn't are already right here to barter any type of offer," a White Home Formal told NBC.
The dueling letters involving the president as well as the speaker occur amid the practically 4-7 days-extended partial shutdown of your federal federal government over border safety disputes concerning Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico noted that Pelosi's excursion were kept beneath wraps due to safety fears.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized the two his ally Trump and Pelosi following the president's letter to the speaker became community.
"Just one sophomoric reaction does not ought to have A further. Speaker Pelosi's threat to cancel the State in the Union is incredibly irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham reported in a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi army travel to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is additionally inappropriate."
Graham's Business office instructed NBC Information that he remaining for Turkey on Wednesday evening over a business flight.
"I am glad the Speaker wishes to satisfy our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham stated. "I am extremely morbus crohn ernährung dissatisfied she's taking part in politics Together with the Condition from the Union," he mentioned. "I wish our political Management could discover the very same need to function for typical objectives as those that provide our country 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