In a playground tit-for-tat, Trump told Nancy Pelosi that he was canceling her military transport for her ‘excursion’ to Belgium, Egypt, and Afghanistan. In a letter to the Speaker, he said:
Due to the Shutdown, I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan has been postponed.
He then added his reasoning:
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’s favorite gambit is to demean, and here he smears Pelosi’s trip to the troops. But it is hard to see how it was a ‘public relations event’ when no one knew it was happening. And if it was, then how is it different than his visit to the troops in Iraq during the shutdown.
Her stop in Brussels that was mandated by regulations covering pilot flying times. And the delegation was using the stopover to meet with top NATO officials and assure them of Congress’ iron commitment to the defense organization.
Egypt he just made up — it wasn’t on the agenda.
He did allow that the Speaker had the prerogative to fly on commercial aircraft if she so chose. But as he had announced her itinerary he knows that act would place Pelosi in great peril.
His satisfaction at his spite was short lived as many quickly pointed out that an administration delegation was being sent to the economic summit in Davos next week. The White House was forced to quickly declare that outing had also been nixed.
But Trump’s concern for the 800,000 great American workers didn’t stop Melania Trump using a military transport to flee to Florida. The sharp eyes at CivMilAir tweeted this:
#MelaniaForceOne – An hour on, 32,000ft heading towards Florida.Place your bets for PBI
USAF C-32A 98-0001 EXEC1F
I’m guessing Trump thought he could get away with this. But everything he does rebounds to his detriment. Pelosi’s trip to Afghanistan had value. Even his administration’s mission to Davos had a purpose. But those trips are no more. But the First Lady still jets hither and yon for what reason no one knows. She does nothing. And Trump has no time for her.
Let her stay in Florida. But as son Barron attends St Andrew’s Episcopal School in Maryland, I imagine that she is traveling with him for some sunshine over the extended Martin Luther King Jr. Day extended weekend and she will be
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