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, considerably postponed Property Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned overseas excursion with other members of Congress to go to U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon in advance of they had been scheduled to depart over a military plane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, general public motion arrived per day after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in the letter to possibly reschedule his upcoming Condition of your Union address into a joint session of Congress or supply it in crafting.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited possible safety problems related to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other associates to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan about another quite a few times.
Pelosi and several other members of Congress ended up going to depart the Capitol to travel to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe if the White Dwelling declared the postponement.
A White Dwelling Formal told NBC Information that every one congressional delegations abroad that may have made use of federally funded military plane have been grounded by Trump until the shutdown finishes.
However, the White Dwelling is allowing Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin along with other members of the Trump administration to vacation to the earth Financial Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next 7 days.
"We'll reschedule this seven-working day excursion in the event the Shutdown is about," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Naturally, if you want to create your journey by traveling industrial, 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 community in a tweet by White Household press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't point out Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Point out on the Union address, which the president hasn't or else commented on. But his letter was viewed like a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White Residence Formal stated Trump "took speedy action" on Thursday after Discovering Pelosi was planning to go ahead and take trip.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, within a number of tweets, wrote that the congressional delegation's journey to Afghanistan bundled a necessary halt in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with top rated NATO commanders, U.S. army leaders and essential allies – to affirm America' ironclad commitment for the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He included which the weekend trip to Afghanistan did not incorporate a halt in Egypt, as Trump experienced recommended in his letter.
"The objective of the excursion was to precise appreciation and due to our Nikki Haley Adult males and women in uniform for their services and determination, and to get important countrywide stability and intelligence briefings from Those people around the front lines," Hammill stated.
"The President traveled to Iraq through the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill explained.
Household The greater part Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., claimed Trump's letter is "petty and preposterous and demeans the presidency."
"It truly is smaller. It can be vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It can be unbecoming with the president of The us and it really is an regrettably everyday occurrence."
White Home officers, on the other hand, explained Trump's transfer was the result of his want to conclude the shutdown, and never payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she had gone on this vacation she might have assured that 800,000 federal workers wouldn't obtain their next paycheck mainly because she would not have been in this article to negotiate any kind of deal," a White Home Formal informed NBC.
The dueling letters between the president as well as speaker arrive amid the nearly four-7 days-lengthy partial shutdown of the federal govt more than border protection disputes in between Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico described that Pelosi's trip had been saved below wraps as a consequence of safety worries.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both his ally Trump and Pelosi following the president's letter into the speaker became community.
"One sophomoric response isn't going to deserve One more. Speaker Pelosi's danger to terminate the State in the Union is rather irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham stated within a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi armed service vacation to go to our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is also inappropriate."
Graham's Place of work instructed NBC Information that he still left for Turkey on Wednesday evening over a business flight.
"I'm glad the Speaker would like to fulfill our troops and listen to from our commanders and allies," Graham claimed. "I'm incredibly let down she's actively playing politics While using the Point out of your Union," he said. "I would like our political Management could discover the similar want to get the job done for popular plans as individuals that 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