Politics - News Analysis
Trump Just Took Pettiness to All New Level by Banning Nancy Pelosi From Traveling Overseas
Donald Trump released a letter on Thursday stating that he is canceling Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s planned international travel in response to her request to postpone the State of the Union address due to the government shutdown.
In a letter to Pelosi, Trump told her a congressional delegation trip she intended to take to Brussels, Egypt and Afghanistan “has been postponed.”
The president dismissed the trip as a “public relations event,” and said if she wants to go by flying commercial, “that would certainly be your prerogative.”
“I also feel that, during this period, it would be better in Washington negotiating with me and joining the Strong Border Security movement to end the shutdown,” he wrote.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted out the letter, “President @realDonaldTrump’s letter to @SpeakerPelosi concerning her upcoming travel”
President @realDonaldTrump’s letter to @SpeakerPelosi concerning her upcoming travel pic.twitter.com/TtBCvwp080
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 17, 2019
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The response comes one day after Pelosi requested Trump move his address from its scheduled date on Jan. 29, citing security concerns related to the record-long shutdown.
The president did not address the Speaker’s request to move the date of his speech.
There was speculation on Capitol Hill that Pelosi’s trip may have already been canceled when congressional leaders scrapped next week’s recess.
Pelosi hasn’t responded, but Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says Trump’s decision is “petty and ridiculous.”
House Majority Leader Hoyer says President Trump's decision to postpone Speaker Pelosi's foreign trip via military aircraft is “petty and ridiculous."
Latest: https://t.co/KEhCeOMBZt pic.twitter.com/IIKShwtjGV
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 17, 2019
UPDATE:
Pelosi’s rep has now responded:
The CODEL to Afghanistan included a required stop in Brussels for pilot rest. In Brussels, the delegation was scheduled to meet with top NATO commanders, U.S. military leaders and key allies–to affirm the United States’ ironclad commitment to the NATO alliance. (1/4)
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) January 17, 2019
This weekend visit to Afghanistan did not include a stop in Egypt. (2/4)
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) January 17, 2019
The purpose of the trip was to express appreciation & thanks to our men & women in uniform for their service & dedication, & to obtain critical national security & intelligence briefings from those on the front lines. (3/4)
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) January 17, 2019
The President traveled to Iraq during the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican CODEL led by Rep. Zeldin. (4/4)
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) January 17, 2019
Twitter was shocked by the pettiness:
This is pathetic https://t.co/y8gRQiGdcI
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) January 17, 2019
THIS IS THE MOST PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE PETTY ISH LETTER EVER WRITTEN WITH A WH LETTERHEAD https://t.co/GfgQphlr7w
— Tanya Chen (@Tanya_Chen) January 17, 2019
Is it me or does this just seem petty and beneath the presidency? https://t.co/x8FQC0MekD
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) January 17, 2019
what a petulant baby president we have https://t.co/zkLclwIyx4
— jon rosenberg with extra cheese???? (@jonrosenberg) January 17, 2019
LOL. There is no bottom to the pettiness. https://t.co/XsGqgyj2xV
— Ben Yelin (@byelin) January 17, 2019
This is cute but the House cancelled its recess next week so presume this trip was already cancelled.
Trump thinks he's playing chess but he's really playing Hungry Hungry Hippos https://t.co/WxLsTtxI97
— Adam Blickstein (@AdamBlickstein) January 17, 2019
Pelosi took from Trump one of the most visible rhetorical tools of the modern presidency.
Trump took from Pelosi a perk — if you can call a military flight to Afghanistan a perk — that few people know or care about. And it feels petty.
Advantage: Pelosi. https://t.co/TpZJYxvnRx
— Gregory Korte (@gregorykorte) January 17, 2019
This letter reveals the secret travel plans into a war zone for one of the most high ranking officials in the US. https://t.co/Yhs4OMtkdp
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) January 17, 2019
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