Trump ratchets up row with Pelosi by cancelling her Afghanistan trip

US President Donald Trump made his dispute with House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi over the government shutdown personal when he cancelled anoverseas trip and denied her use of a military plane to Afghanistan.

The move came after Pelosi had asked Trump to consider either postponing his State of the Union address scheduled for January 29 or submit it in writing, citing security worries as a result of the shutdown.

“Due to the shutdown, I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt and Afghanistan has been postponed,” the president wrote in a letter to Pelosi.

“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.”

“It would be better if you were in Washington negotiating with me and joining the Strong Border Security movement. If you would like to make your journey flying commercial, that would certainly be your prerogative.”

It is not normal procedure to make public the travel details of high-ranking politicians.

Pelosi's spokesman Drew Hammill said the trip to Afghanistan needed a stop in Brussels for the pilot to rest, adding the delegation planned “to meet with top Nato commanders, US military leaders and key allies”.

He also said the trip did not include a stop in Egypt, while the Afghanistan trip was intended “to express appreciation & thanks to our men & women in uniform for their service and dedication, and to obtain critical national security & intelligence briefings from those on the front lines”.