ZUMA
President Donald Trump struck back at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recommendation to reschedule his State of the Union address until after the government has reopened, claiming in a letter on Thursday that he has postponed Pelosi’s upcoming travel to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan—foreign visits he derisively referred to as “public relations” events.
“In light of the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay, I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is totally appropriate,” Trump wrote in the letter, which was first tweeted by press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “I also feel that, during this period, it would be better if you were in Washington negotiating with me and joining the Strong Border Security movement to end the Shutdown.”
The retaliatory move by the president came less than an hour before Pelosi had reportedly planned to leave for her trip. Prior to Trump’s letter, Pelosi’s trip had reportedly been kept a secret out of security concerns.
If Pelosi hoped to keep her foreign travel commitments, the president, in typical Trump-trolling fashion, suggested she fly commercial.
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
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
Trump, who presumably denied Pelosi’s use of a military plane, did not intend to cancel upcoming travel for his Cabinet members attending the World Economic Forum in Davos next week, White House aides confirmed. His letter also did not respond directly to Pelosi’s initial suggestion that he postpone his State of the Union address, originally scheduled for January 29.
President @realDonaldTrump’s letter to @SpeakerPelosi concerning her upcoming travel pic.twitter.com/TtBCvwp080
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 17, 2019
