Donald Trump cancels Pelosi Kabul trip
And in a move that appeared aimed at heading off Democratic criticism about non-essential administration travel during the shutdown.
Washington: US President Donald Trump forced the cancellation on Thursday of a trip to Afghanistan by his Democratic opponent Nancy Pelosi, and scrap-ped administration officials’ travel to the Davos forum as a government shutdown plunged Washington deeper into deadlock.
The mess in the US capital already verged on the surreal as Congress feuds with the White House over how to end an imp-asse, with thousands of federal workers left unpaid. But now it is also getting increasingly personal between the two main antagonists.
In a letter laced with sarcasm, Trump told House Speaker Pelosi: “I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan has been postponed. We will reschedule this seven-day excursion when the Shutdown is over.” “I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is appropriate,” he wrote.
And in a move that appeared aimed at heading off Democratic criticism about non-essential administration travel during the shutdown, the White House announced the cancellation of a trip to the World Economic Forum by treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and others “out of consideration for the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay.” Pelosi and her delegation had planned a non-publicised trip to Afghanistan and were due to travel aboard a US Air Force plane.