pelosi air force plane
President Trump on Thursday abruptly denied military aircraft to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a foreign trip just minutes before the congressional delegation was set to depart, in a stunning decision that followed her call to delay the State of the Union address amid the government shutdown.

In a curt letter, Trump said her trip has been "postponed."

"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. 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," Trump wrote.


President Donald Trump has canceled House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's upcoming trips to Belgium, Egypt and Afghanistan, citing the ongoing government shutdown, one day after Pelosi threatened to cancel his State of the Union address.

"Due to the Shutdown, I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt and Afghanistan has been postponed," Trump wrote in a letter to Pelosi, shared with the press. "We will reschedule this seven-day excursion when the Shutdown is over."


"Of course, if you would like to make your journey by flying commercial, that would certainly be your prerogative," the president jibed.

Pelosi's flight was due to depart at 3pm, while the White House circulated the letter around 2pm, according to Fox News.


Trump then attacked Pelosi for refusing to fund his planned wall at the US' Mexican border, thereby ending the shutdown.

"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," the letter concludes.

Trump's letter comes one day after Pelosi threatened to use her power of invitation as House Speaker to cancel Trump's upcoming State of the Union address, citing concerns that security staff are furloughed due to the shutdown.

The Department of Homeland Security and Secret Service insists they have the manpower to staff the event, which one official called a "no-fail mission."