President Donald Trump tells Residence Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a letter that he is suspending her scheduled trip to Brussels and Afghanistan because of the ongoing federal government shutdown.





President Donald Trump, citing The federal government shutdown, substantially postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's prepared overseas journey with other users of Congress to go to U.S. troops in Afghanistan Soon right before they were being scheduled to depart over a armed forces airplane Thursday.

The president's abrupt, community action arrived daily just after Pelosi, D-Calif. urged Trump in a very letter to both reschedule his approaching Point out on the Union deal with to a joint session of Congress or provide it in writing.

Pelosi in her letter to Trump cited opportunity protection issues related to the partial shutdown. She was scheduled with other customers to visit NATO commanders in Brussels and troops in Afghanistan about the next quite a few days.

Pelosi and several other other associates of Congress ended up about to depart the Capitol to generate to Joint Foundation Andrews in Maryland to fly to Europe once the White Dwelling announced the postponement.

A White Household official advised NBC Information that all congressional delegations overseas that may have utilized federally funded armed service aircraft have already been grounded by Trump till the shutdown finishes.

Nevertheless, the White Property is allowing Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and various members in the Trump administration to journey to the whole world Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, next week.

"We will reschedule this seven-day excursion once the Shutdown is in excess of," Trump wrote in in his letter to Pelosi. "Definitely, if you would like to create your journey by flying industrial, that would certainly be your prerogative."





Trump's letter, which was manufactured community in the tweet by White Household press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, did not mention Pelosi's demand him to postpone the Point out with the Union tackle, which the president hasn't normally commented on. But his letter was viewed as a retaliation for her recommendation.

A White Household official mentioned Trump "took quick action" on Thursday after learning Pelosi was intending to take the trip.

Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, inside of a number of tweets, wrote the congressional delegation's journey to Afghanistan integrated a required prevent in Brussels for pilot rest.

"In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with top NATO commanders, U.S. military services leaders and critical allies – to affirm The us' ironclad commitment to your NATO alliance," Hammill wrote.

He additional which the weekend journey to Afghanistan didn't contain a stop in Egypt, as Trump experienced recommended in his letter.

"The goal of the trip was to specific appreciation and thanks to our Adult men and women in Gina Haspel uniform for his or her service and dedication, and to get critical nationwide stability and intelligence briefings from Individuals on the front traces," 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 said.

Property Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., claimed Trump's letter is "petty and absurd and demeans the presidency."

"It really is smaller. It is vindictive," Hoyer fumed. "It truly is unbecoming of your president of the United States and it truly is an regretably every day event."

White Household officers, on the other hand, reported Trump's shift was the result of his desire to finish the shutdown, and never payback to Pelosi personally.

"If she had gone on this journey she might have assured that 800,000 federal employees would not receive their second paycheck since she would not are in this article to barter almost any offer," a White Property official advised NBC.

The dueling letters amongst the president along with the speaker appear amid the virtually four-week-extensive partial shutdown of the federal federal government in excess of border safety disputes among Trump and Democratic lawmakers.

Politico noted that Pelosi's trip Steven Mnuchin were held underneath wraps as a consequence of protection worries.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized equally his ally Trump and Pelosi after the president's letter into the speaker grew to become public.

"One sophomoric response will not should have another. Speaker Pelosi's danger to cancel the Condition in the Union is very irresponsible and blatantly political," Graham claimed within a number of tweets. "President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi navy vacation to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is usually inappropriate."

Graham's Office environment informed NBC Information that he remaining for Turkey on Wednesday night over a commercial flight.

"I am happy the Speaker desires to meet up with our troops and hear from our commanders and allies," Graham explained. "I'm extremely let down she's playing politics Along with the Point out from the Union," he claimed. "I would like our political leadership could discover the similar desire to perform for popular objectives as individuals who provide our country in uniform and also other capacities."




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