Trump responds to Pelosi by canceling her foreign travel after she asks him to postpone his State of the Union

• President Donald Trump said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday that he was postponing her scheduled government trip to Belgium, Egypt, and Afghanistan, citing the ongoing partial government shutdown.
• "I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is totally appropriate," Trump said in the letter.
• Pelosi on Wednesday sent a letter to Trump calling on him to postpone his upcoming State of the Union address, citing security concerns linked to the shutdown.

President Donald Trump on Thursday sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi informing her that he was postponing her scheduled government trip to Belgium, Egypt, and Afghanistan because of the partial government shutdown.

"Due to the Shutdown, I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan has been postponed," the letter said. "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."

Read more: Nancy Pelosi suggests Trump either postpone his State of the Union address until after the government shutdown ends, or submit it in writing

Trump said he thought it would be better if Pelosi stayed in Washington to negotiate an end to the shutdown with him and join "the Strong Border Security movement." He added that Pelosi could fly commercial if she wished to move forward with the trip. Members of Congress typically fly on military planes for official foreign travel.

Pelosi was reportedly scheduled to leave for the trip at 3 p.m. ET. The House speaker's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from INSIDER.

On Wednesday, Pelosi sent a letter to the president calling on him to postpone his State of the Union address, scheduled for January 29, until after the government is reopened. She also suggested he submit the address in writing as an alternative.

Pelosi cited security concerns and the fact that the US Secret Service is working without pay because of the shutdown.

Read more: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer walks back comment that Trump's State of the Union address 'is off'

Subsequently, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said her agency and the US Secret Service were prepared to provide security for the State of the Union.

The ongoing government shutdown, the longest in US history, is a product of the president's demand for $5.7 billion in funding for a wall he wants to build along the US-Mexico border. Democrats, who think the wall is unnecessary and would not adequately address the US's immigration issues, have refused to grant Trump the money.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We tried the thickest, messiest hot chocolate in London — here's what we thought