Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) criticized President Trump’s decision Thursday to cancel House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s overseas trip at the last minute as “inappropriate.”
He suggested Trump should not have retaliated in that manner after Pelosi threatened to cancel the State of the Union address.
“One sophomoric response does not deserve another,” he tweeted. “Speaker Pelosi’s threat to cancel the State of the Union is very irresponsible and blatantly political.”
Graham continued: “President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi military travel to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is also inappropriate.”
One sophomoric response does not deserve another. Speaker Pelosi’s threat to cancel the State of the Union is very irresponsible and blatantly political.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 17, 2019
President Trump denying Speaker Pelosi military travel to visit our troops in Afghanistan, our allies in Egypt and NATO is also inappropriate.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 17, 2019
I am glad the Speaker wants to meet our troops and hear from our commanders and allies. I am very disappointed she’s playing politics with the State of the Union.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 17, 2019
President Trump denied Pelosi a military aircraft on Thursday approximately 40 minutes before her scheduled departure time. In a letter to the House Speaker, Trump said her seven-day trip to Brussels and Afghanistan would be rescheduled after the shutdown.
“In light of the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay, I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event it totally appropriate,” he said in the letter. “I also feel that, during this period, it would be better if you were in Washington negotiating with me and joining the Strong Border Security movement to end the Shutdown.”
President @realDonaldTrump’s letter to @SpeakerPelosi concerning her upcoming travel pic.twitter.com/TtBCvwp080
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 17, 2019
Graham said he wished those in political leadership could behave more like the men and women who serve the nation.
“I wish our political leadership could find the same desire to work for common goals as those who serve our nation in uniform and other capacities,” he said.
I wish our political leadership could find the same desire to work for common goals as those who serve our nation in uniform and other capacities.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 17, 2019