Donald Trump cancels Nancy Pelosi's foreign trip as tensions rise in tit-for-tat over government shutdown

Cancelled: Nancy Pelosi, pictured, was set to fly to Afghanistan, Egypt and Brussels
AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump has postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Brussels and Afghanistan in response to her attempt to delay his State of the Union address.

The US leader flexed his executive power by cancelling her seven-day excursion, saying it would be better if she stayed in Washington to debate the government shutdown.

Mr Trump’s move is the latest in a political tit-for-tat between the two leaders as the negotiations to end the month-long shutdown have so far failed to produce results.

In a letter sent to Mrs Pelosi on Thursday, the president wrote: “I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt and Afghanistan has been postponed.

“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.

“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.”

Mr Trump said the flights would no longer be provided, but told the House Speaker that if she wants to make the journey by flying commercial “that would certainly be your prerogative”.

US President Donald Trump has requested funding for his US-Mexico border wall
AFP/Getty Images

Before signing off, the president added: “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!”

President Trump's move to ground the speaker came after Ms Pelosi threatened his planned State of the Union address on January 29, saying the shutdown raised concerns about whether the forum could have adequate security.

Republicans said she was merely trying to deny the president the stage.

The exchange underscored the tension between the two leaders, both playing to their core supporters as they battle over the president's demand for money to build a US-Mexico border wall.

The sparring took place as hundreds of thousands of federal workers go without pay and Washington's routine protocols - a president's speech to Congress, a lawmaker's official trip - become inflamed from the budget fight.

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