In the budget dispute in the US, President Donald Trump canceled a trip by top Democrat Nancy Pelosi. "Due to the shutdown, unfortunately, I have to tell you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt and Afghanistan has been postponed," Trump wrote in a letter to the House Chairperson.
The Democrat wanted to meet, among others, on Friday in Brussels with the EU foreign policy officer Federica Mogherini. In Afghanistan, she wanted to visit US troops and receive security and intelligence documents, her spokesperson said. On Twitter, her Deputy Chief of Staff Drew Hammill published that within this trip Pelosis no stop in Egypt had been planned.
This weekend visit to Afghanistan did not include a stop in Egypt. (2/4)
- Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) January 17, 2019Trump's decision was like a revenge for Pelosi's suggestion the previous day to postpone a speech scheduled for the end of January to Congress on the state of the nation. In his letter, Trump could not resist a swipe at the Democrat, implying that they are traveling for PR purposes anyway. "With 800,000 great American workers out of salary, you certainly agree that postponing this PR event is absolutely appropriate," he wrote in reference to the trip. Pelosi should rather negotiate with him during this time for a solution in the budget dispute, he wrote.
For nearly four weeks, parts of the government apparatus have been shut down in the United States because the dispute over Trump's request for a wall on the border with Mexico did not lead to the passing of a budget law. Trump refuses to sign a law that does not include money for the wall. The Democrats, whose votes he relies on in Congress, reject that.
The White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, said that Trump's ability to use military aircraft was Pelosis. Pelosi could still travel, but only by scheduled flight.