The Pelosi Afghanistan Trip: A Family Affair?

In January 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was forced to cancel a trip to Afghanistan after President Donald Trump blocked her and a congressional delegation from using a military aircraft for the trip. The cancellation came amid a standoff between Pelosi and Trump over funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall, which Pelosi opposed. The trip, which was standard procedure for lawmakers and public figures flying to conflict zones, was not publicly announced, but it included a stop in Brussels to meet with NATO officials. Pelosi's office accused the Trump administration of endangering the security of the delegation and U.S. troops in Afghanistan by leaking details of their plans to travel on commercial flights. While there were claims that Pelosi planned to bring 93 family members on the trip, there is no evidence to support this.

The trip was cancelled after Trump blocked the use of a military plane

The trip to Afghanistan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other senior members of Congress was cancelled after President Donald Trump blocked the use of a military plane. The trip was originally scheduled for January 2019 and was to include a stop in Brussels to meet with NATO officials. The purpose of the trip was to express appreciation to US troops and obtain critical national security and intelligence information.

Trump's decision to block the use of a military plane came in response to a letter from Pelosi, in which she urged him to reschedule his upcoming State of the Union address or deliver it in writing due to the partial government shutdown. In his response, Trump informed Pelosi that her trip was postponed and that she could fly commercially if she still wanted to proceed. Pelosi's office accused the Trump Administration of endangering the security of members of Congress and US troops in Afghanistan by leaking details of their plans to travel on commercial flights.

After the commercial travel plans were leaked, the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service provided an updated threat assessment, stating that the President's announcement had significantly increased the danger to the delegation. As a result, Pelosi and the accompanying lawmakers cancelled the trip altogether to avoid further endangering US troops and security personnel, as well as other travellers.

Despite the cancellation, Pelosi affirmed that the trip would be rescheduled for another time. She eventually made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan in October 2019, along with a bipartisan congressional delegation.

Trump cited the government shutdown as the reason for his decision

In January 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Afghanistan was cancelled by then-President Donald Trump, who cited the government shutdown as the reason for his decision. Pelosi had urged Trump to either reschedule his upcoming State of the Union address or deliver it in writing, given the partial government shutdown. In response, Trump announced that Pelosi's trip to Afghanistan, Brussels, and Egypt had been postponed until the shutdown was over.

Trump's decision was met with criticism from members of his own party, with Senator Lindsey Graham calling it a "sophomoric response." Pelosi's office accused the Trump Administration of endangering the security of members of Congress and U.S. troops in Afghanistan by leaking details of the Congressional delegation's plans to travel on commercial flights. Pelosi herself stated that "you never give advance notice of going into a battle area," and that the President's actions had significantly increased the danger.

The partial government shutdown at the time had reached its 28th day, with Trump refusing to reopen the government until lawmakers agreed to fund his proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall. This shutdown lasted for 35 days, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history at the time. It resulted in thousands of federal employees being furloughed, disruptions to government services, and a negative impact on the economy.

Pelosi accused Trump of endangering the delegation by revealing their travel plans

On January 18, 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused President Donald Trump and his administration of endangering the lives of Americans, including her own, by publicly revealing a congressional delegation's plans to travel by commercial aircraft to Afghanistan. Pelosi told reporters in the US Capitol that they had planned to travel commercially until the administration leaked their plans, endangering them and other passengers. She stated that advance notice should never be given when travelling to a battle area and that Trump's inexperience may have been the reason for his failure to understand this protocol. Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, said that the trip was postponed to avoid endangering troops, security personnel, and other travellers.

The accusation came a day after Trump denied Pelosi the use of a military aircraft, citing the government shutdown. Pelosi's office was then prepared to fly commercially, an idea Trump himself raised. However, on the morning of January 18, the trip was postponed due to the administration leaking details that could endanger the trip or the troops. A White House official denied this, stating that the world would find out when 20 people from Capitol Hill book commercial flights to Afghanistan.

The dispute was part of a larger political standoff between Trump and Pelosi over the government shutdown, which had reached its 28th day. Trump and Pelosi exchanged letters throughout the shutdown fight, with Pelosi suggesting Trump reschedule his State of the Union address due to security concerns, and Trump cancelling Pelosi's trip to Afghanistan. The White House rejected Pelosi's accusation of endangering troops and civilians, stating that they wanted to keep Pelosi in town for negotiations to end the shutdown. Pelosi's spokesman denied that there were any negotiations taking place.

The partial government shutdown was a result of Trump's demands for funding for a US-Mexico border wall, which Pelosi opposed. The shutdown impacted 800,000 federal workers, who went without pay, and impaired some government functions. The shutdown lasted for 28 days, becoming the longest in US history at the time.

The trip was to include a stop in Brussels to meet with NATO officials

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Afghanistan was cancelled by President Donald Trump in January 2019. The trip was to include a stop in Brussels to meet with NATO officials and reaffirm the United States' "ironclad commitment" to the NATO alliance.

Pelosi's spokesman, Drew Hammill, stated that the purpose of the trip was to "express appreciation and thanks to our men and women in uniform for their service and dedication and to obtain critical national security and intelligence from those on the front lines." He also noted that the trip was to include a required stop in Brussels for the pilot to rest.

The trip was cancelled after Trump denied Pelosi the use of a military aircraft, citing the government shutdown as the reason. This came in response to Pelosi's request to delay Trump's State of the Union address due to the shutdown.

After the cancellation, Pelosi accused the Trump Administration of endangering the security of members of Congress and U.S. troops in Afghanistan by leaking details of the delegation's plans to travel on commercial flights. She stated that "you never give advance notice of going into a battle area," and that the President's actions had significantly increased the danger.

Despite the cancellation, Pelosi affirmed that "we'll go again. We'll go another time."

The trip was to be Pelosi's ninth visit to Afghanistan

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made several visits to Afghanistan. In January 2019, Pelosi planned a trip to Afghanistan, which would have been her ninth visit to the country. However, this trip was cancelled after a dispute with President Donald Trump. Pelosi had initially requested that Trump reschedule his State of the Union address or deliver it in writing due to security concerns amid a partial government shutdown. In response, Trump blocked Pelosi and other lawmakers from using a military aircraft for their trip to Afghanistan, suggesting they fly commercially instead. Pelosi's office accused the Trump Administration of endangering the security of the Congressional delegation and U.S. troops in Afghanistan by leaking their plans to travel on commercial flights.

After the State Department warned of increased danger, Pelosi and the accompanying lawmakers ultimately decided to postpone the trip. Pelosi stated that she would reschedule the trip for another time. Indeed, in October 2019, Pelosi and other senior members of Congress made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, meeting with President Ashraf Ghani, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and top U.S. military commanders and troops. This visit occurred during a period of uncertainty about the United States' commitment to its allies following Trump's withdrawal of troops from Syria.

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