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, considerably postponed Dwelling Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's planned abroad journey with other users of Congress to visit U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon just before they have been scheduled to depart on the armed forces plane Thursday.
The president's abrupt, general public motion came every day immediately after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in a very letter to either reschedule his forthcoming State from the Union deal with to the joint session of Congress or provide it in composing.
Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited possible protection problems connected with the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other customers to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan around the subsequent several times.
Pelosi and a number of other other users of Congress ended up about to depart the Capitol to push to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe once the White Home introduced the postponement.
A White Residence Formal informed NBC News that all congressional delegations overseas that might have utilized federally funded military services aircraft have already been grounded by Trump until finally the shutdown ends.
Nevertheless, the White House is enabling Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other customers with the Trump administration to vacation to the whole world Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, upcoming week.
"We'll reschedule this 7-day excursion in the event the Shutdown is over," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Naturally, if you want for making 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 built community in a tweet by White Dwelling push secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, didn't mention Pelosi's call for him to postpone the Condition of your Union handle, which the president hasn't otherwise commented on. But his letter was found as a retaliation for her suggestion.
A White Dwelling Formal mentioned Trump "took immediate motion" on Thursday after Understanding Pelosi was planning to go ahead and take journey.
Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, in the series of tweets, wrote that the congressional delegation's excursion to Afghanistan provided a needed quit in Brussels for pilot relaxation.
"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to satisfy with leading NATO commanders, U.S. army leaders and important allies – to affirm America' ironclad commitment into the NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.
He additional which the weekend trip to Afghanistan didn't contain a stop in Egypt, as Trump had instructed in his letter.
"The objective of the trip was to specific appreciation and thanks to our Adult males and ladies in uniform for his or her service and devotion, and to acquire vital countrywide stability and intelligence briefings from Individuals to the entrance strains," Hammill said.
"The President traveled to Iraq in the course of the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican [congressional delegation] led by" Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Hammill stated.
House The greater part Chief Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Trump's letter is "petty and ridiculous and demeans the presidency."
"It truly is tiny. It can be vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It ketogene diät epilepsie can be unbecoming of your president of America and it is actually an unfortunately every day occurrence."
White House officers, on the other hand, said Trump's move was the results of his need to stop the shutdown, and never payback to Pelosi Individually.
"If she had Sonny Perdue absent on this trip she would've assured that 800,000 federal personnel wouldn't obtain their next paycheck simply because she wouldn't are right here to barter any kind of deal," a White Home official told NBC.
The dueling letters among the president and the speaker arrive amid the almost 4-7 days-extended partial shutdown with the federal govt about border stability disputes among Trump and Democratic lawmakers.
Politico claimed that Pelosi's excursion were retained under wraps due to safety worries.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized both of those his ally Trump and Pelosi once the president's letter for the speaker turned public.
"1 sophomoric response isn't going to are worthy of A further. Speaker Pelosi's risk to cancel the Condition from the Union is rather irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham mentioned Gina Haspel within a series of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi navy journey to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is likewise inappropriate."
Graham's Place of work explained to NBC Information that he still left for Turkey on Wednesday evening over a business flight.
"I'm happy the Speaker wants to fulfill our troops and listen to from our commanders and allies," Graham claimed. "I'm pretty disappointed she's enjoying politics While using the Point out of your Union," he mentioned. "I want our political leadership could find the exact same desire to do the job for typical goals 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. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2019