Trump cancels Pelosi's jet to Brussels, blames government shutdown
President Trump on Thursday told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi he was canceling the official government jet for a trip she planned to take to Brussels, Egypt and Afghanistan, saying it would be wrong for her to go while the government is shut down.
“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,” he wrote in a letter to the California Democrat.
He said Mrs. Pelosi could fly commercial instead.
Mrs. Pelosi was slated to lead a congressional delegation on the trip beginning Thursday afternoon, an administration source confirmed, in a government plane leaving from Joint Base Andrews — the same departure point as Air Force One.
Mr. Trump’s move comes a day after Mrs. Pelosi told Mr. Trump not to show up at the Capitol on Jan. 29 to deliver his annual State of the Union address. Mrs. Pelosi originally said she had “security” concerns amid the shutdown, but later said it wasn’t so much security as it was unseemly to make federal employees work to protect the shutdown while not receiving pay.
Mr. Trump has not responded specifically to her delay suggestion, but in the new letter he said he’s eager to negotiate with Mrs. Pelosi.
“I look forward to seeing you soon and even more forward to watching our open and dangerous southern border finally receive the attention, funding and security it so desperately deserves!” he wrote.
(The Washington Times)