As the government shutdown looms, Donald Trump had no choice but to cancel his scheduled departure to Mar-a-Lago on Friday, where he was scheduled to spend 16 days vacationing over the holidays in his ritzy Palm Beach estate.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Friday morning that the president will not leave Washington if Congress does not pass a temporary spending bill that he would agree to sign to keep the government operating.
That vow, if held to, could put a big crimp in Trump’s holiday plans.
A Federal Aviation Administration memo issued earlier this month barred planes from flying over West Palm Beach from Friday through Jan. 6. Such a ban is typically issued to coincide with Trump’s travel to the resort.
However, there was no mention of the president’s plans to travel on his published scheduled Friday.
A tweet from the National Business Aviation Association that afternoon announced that a temporary flight restriction on the president’s travel to his Palm Beach resort had been canceled. But the NBAA followed up shortly after to clarify that a short-term restriction for the Mar-A-Lago area was “LIKELY” through the holidays.
But Melania apparently doesn’t want to sit out the shutdown with her loving husband, so she has jetted off to sunny Florida.
According to CNN’s Kate Bennett, Melania took off earlier today with son Barron:
NEW: @FLOTUS [1] is on her way to Florida. “It has long been the family’s tradition to spend their Christmas holiday at Mar-a-Lago. Her plans to travel with her son to their Florida home for his winter break have not changed this year,” @StephGrisham45 [2] tells me.
— Kate Bennett (@KateBennett_DC) December 21, 2018 [3]
Of course, Twitter had a field day:
But how will this impact her important work in Washington of doing literally nothing??
— Ken Fitzgerald (@loudlong) December 21, 2018 [4]
This is her “Let them eat cake” moment.
Happy Smocking Christmas Federal Government employees. #BeBest [5]
— LBMarkellMarkou (@LBmarkella) December 21, 2018 [6]
Leaving Trump to have Christmas alone in the White House with his phone & his twitter account? Talk about a beautiful portrait of family unity & togetherness!
— Laura Kumin (@MotherWouldKnow) December 21, 2018 [7]
Let's use up some more government money just before the shutdown. Great!
— Sam M. (@CTOR02) December 21, 2018 [8]
Are the decorations at Mar a Loser as scary or gauche as at OUR White House??? #AVeryTrampyChristmas [9] @FLOTUS [1] speaks 5 languages: $, ₽, £, € & VISA. pic.twitter.com/pHZl1615Uk [10]
— SHANNON (@shannonladiva) December 21, 2018 [11]