Amid shutdown, Trump cancels Pelosi ‘excursion’

Washington, January 18

US President Donald Trump has denied House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a military plane for an “excursion” to Brussels and war-torn Afghanistan, a tit-for-tat retaliation that deepened the divide between the two leaders amidst the longest-ever federal government shutdown.

Trump’s unusual move to postpone Pelosi’s trip came on Thursday, a day after the 78-year-old top Democrat urged him to reschedule his annual State of the Union address slated for January 29, citing security concerns triggered by the shutdown that has entered its 27th day.

The shutdown is a result of the bitter political divide over border security issue as the Democrats who now enjoy majority in the House of Representatives have refused to pass a legislation approving $5.7 billion in federal funding to construct a wall across the US-Mexico border.

“Due to the shutdown, 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,” Trump said in a letter to Pelosi, a copy of which was released to the press, an hour before her delegation was due to leave for the week-long trip. “Obviously, if you would like to make your journey by flying commercial, that would certainly be your prerogative,” Trump wrote to Pelosi, who is third in line to the presidency. — PTI

No US team at Davos

• President Trump, who cancelled his visit to Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, has now called off the US delegation’s trip to the annual meeting, citing the partial government shutdown. The five-day summit is slated to begin at the Swiss resort town of Davos from January 21. 
• “Out of consideration for the 8,00,000 great American workers not receiving pay and to ensure his team can assist as needed, President Trump has cancelled his delegation’s trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.