UPDATE: According to The Daily Caller’s Benny Johnson, Pelosi was set to leave for her trip to Europe at 3 p.m.; the news about the cancellation was broke to her via Twitter:
Original story:
President Donald Trump penned a letter to Democrat Nancy Pelosi on Thursday, informing the House Speaker that he has temporarily cancelled her “public relations” trips abroad due to the government shutdown. The president did, however, tell Pelosi that she could fly to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan commercial if she so chooses.
“Due to the Shutdown, I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan has been postponed,” wrote Trump in the letter, which was plastered to social media. “We will reschedule this seven-day excursion when the Shutdown is over.”
“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,” the president continued. “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.”
“Obviously, if you would like to make your journey by flying commercial, that would certainly be your prerogative,” Trump kindly offered.
“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!” concluded Trump.
The president posted the letter to his Instagram and Facebook accounts, as did White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to her Twitter account.
On Wednesday, Speaker Pelosi demanded the White House delay Trump’s annual State of the Union address due to the partial government shutdown. The Daily Wire reported:
In a letter to President Donald Trump, made public Wednesday morning, Pelosi admonished the president for planning to hold the annual address, claiming that a “State of the Union Address has never been delivered during a government shutdown” since the inception of modern Congressional budgeting processes in 1977.
The Speaker of the House added that since the Secret Service is included in the government furlough, Congress lacks the security necessary to hold the event, even though critical staff members are still on the job, just not receiving paychecks.
“Sadly, given the security concerns and unless government re-opens this week,” wrote Pelosi in a letter addressed to Trump, “I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address or for you to consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing to the Congress on January 29th.”
According to NBC News, Pelosi took another jab at Trump on Thursday morning: “Maybe he thinks it’s OK not to pay people who work,” she told reporters. “I don’t. And my caucus doesn’t either.”
Pelosi, who’s called Trump’s proposed southern border wall an “immorality,” has been engulfed in bad press over the last week. For example, Trump surrogates have repeatedly asked the Democrat why she is ignoring so-called “Angel parents” — mothers and fathers of those killed by illegal immigrants. On Wednesday, Angel moms flooded Pelosi’s office but were stunningly turned away.