President Trump has halted House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Afghanistan and Brussels an hour before she was due to leave.

In a letter tweeted by White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the President asked Mrs Pelosi to stay in the country to keep working on negotiating the US government shutdown, which now has lasted almost a month.

 

President @realDonaldTrump’s letter to @SpeakerPelosi concerning her upcoming travel pic.twitter.com/TtBCvwp080

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) 17. januar 2019

“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” the President wrote.

It is believed that this move by President Trump is in response to a letter sent by Mrs Pelosi on Wednesday the 16th January, in which she suggested to move the State of the Union address from January 29th.

This address is an annual event in which the President gives Congress an overview of the status of the US, as well as suggests incentives to be taken in the upcoming year.

 

Today, I wrote to @realDonaldTrump recommending that we delay the State of the Union until after government re-opens, as the @SecretService, the lead federal agency for #SOTU security, faces its 26th day without funding. https://t.co/K2oL8WGvqo pic.twitter.com/g3fIlxDbbK

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 16, 2019

“…since the start of modern budgeting in Fiscal Year 1977, a State of the Union address has never been delivered during a government shutdown.” Mrs Pelosi wrote.

She continued to suggest that: “…we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address”

The President has not responded to this request.

Drew Hammill, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Nancy Pelosi expressed his dissatisfaction with the President’s move in a series of tweets.

 

The President traveled to Iraq during the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican CODEL led by Rep. Zeldin. (4/4)

— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) 17. januar 2019

 

“The purpose of the trip was to express appreciation & thanks to our men & women in uniform for their service and dedication” he wrote. “The President traveled to Iraq during the Trump Shutdown as did a Republican CODEL led by Rep. Zeldin.”

Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, took office as speaker on January 3rd, 2019. She is the only female to ever serve in the position and is currently the highest ranking female in American politics, outranked only by Vice-President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump.