President Donald Trump is postponing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “seven-day excursion” to Egypt, Afghanistan and Brussels that was scheduled to leave today.
President Trump wrote a letter to Pelosi this morning informing her that her trip had been postponed and could be rescheduled after the shutdown.
“Due to the Shutdown, I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt and Afghanistan has been postponed,” Trump wrote. “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.”
“I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is totally appropriate…it would be better if you were in Washington negotiating with me.”
His letter was sent about 45 minutes before the plane was to take off.
Pelosi had urged Trump on Wednesday to postpone his State of the Union address, citing the political deadlock.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders shared the letter in a tweet.
“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,” Trump wrote.
“Obviously if you would like to make your journey by flying commercial, that would certainly be your prerogative.
“I look forward to seeing you soon and even more forward to watching our open and dangerous Southern Border finally receiving the attention, funding, and security it so desperately deserves!”
A White House official said the president was able to halt the foreign trip by Pelosi and a congressional delegation because they were set to use military aircraft.
Reports say that members of Congress who were due to join the trip have been left sitting on a US Air Force bus at Capitol Hill.
The California representative’s office has not yet responded to the president’s letter.
In her own letter to Trump on Wednesday, Pelosi called on him to reschedule his annual address to Congress since “the extraordinary demands presented” by the event could not be met during the shutdown.