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, radically postponed Property Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned overseas vacation with other members of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan shortly prior to they ended up scheduled to depart with a army plane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, public action came each day soon after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump inside of a letter to possibly reschedule his approaching State in the Union deal with to your joint session of Congress or supply it in crafting.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited potential security issues associated with the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other associates to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan more than the next several times.
Pelosi and several 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 House Formal advised NBC News that every one congressional delegations overseas that will have made use of federally funded military services plane are already grounded by Trump until finally the shutdown ends.
On the other hand, the White Property is enabling Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and also other associates from the Trump administration to vacation to the globe Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next 7 days.
"We will reschedule this seven-working day excursion if the Shutdown is more than," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Of course, if you desire to to make your journey by traveling professional, 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 in a very tweet by White Home press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't point out Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Condition with the Union address, which the president has not normally commented on. But his letter was seen like a retaliation for her recommendation.
A White Dwelling official mentioned Trump "took rapid motion" on Thursday following Mastering Pelosi was intending to go ahead and take vacation.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, inside a series of tweets, wrote that the congressional delegation's trip to Afghanistan bundled a needed cease in Brussels for pilot rest.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to satisfy with top rated NATO commanders, U.S. military services leaders and important allies – to affirm The us' ironclad dedication on the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He extra the weekend excursion to Afghanistan did not contain a end in Egypt, as Trump had proposed in his letter.
"The objective of the journey was to express appreciation and thanks to our Males and women in uniform for his or her company and perseverance, and to obtain crucial countrywide stability and intelligence briefings from Those people over the entrance traces," 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 stated.
House Majority Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., mentioned Trump's letter is "petty and ridiculous and demeans the presidency."
"It is really compact. It's vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It is actually unbecoming with the president of The us and it's an unfortunately each day event."
White House Ben Carson officials, nevertheless, reported Trump's transfer was the results of his need to close the shutdown, rather than payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she had long gone on this trip she might have assured that 800,000 federal personnel would not get their second paycheck mainly because she would not are already right here to barter any kind of deal," a White Dwelling official instructed NBC.
The dueling letters between the president plus the speaker occur amid the practically 4-7 days-long partial shutdown with the federal government in excess of border stability disputes in between Trump and James Mattis Democratic lawmakers.
Politico documented that Pelosi's excursion were saved below wraps on account of stability concerns.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized the two his ally Trump and Pelosi following the president's letter to your speaker turned general public.
"One sophomoric response doesn't are worthy of A different. Speaker Pelosi's danger to terminate the Condition with the Union may be very irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham said inside a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi military travel to go to our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is usually inappropriate."
Graham's office told NBC Information that he still left for Turkey on Wednesday evening on the professional flight.
"I'm glad the Speaker wishes to satisfy our troops and listen to from our commanders Scott Pruitt and allies," Graham reported. "I'm quite unhappy she's enjoying politics With all the State of your Union," he reported. "I desire our political leadership could locate the very same desire to work for prevalent ambitions as people who provide our nation in uniform as well as 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