US President Donald Trump has postponed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s upcoming trip to Brussels, Afghanistan and Egypt, citing the government shutdown.
“I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is totally appropriate,” Mr Trump said in a letter.
On Wednesday, Ms Pelosi urged the president to postpone his State of the Union address, citing furloughed staff.
Mr Trump has been in a standoff with Democrats over the shutdown for weeks.
According to Fox News, the trip cancellation emerged just an hour before the Democratic speaker of the House of Representatives was scheduled to leave on Thursday afternoon.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders shared the letter in a tweet on Thursday.
“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,” Mr Trump wrote.
“Obviously if you would like to make your journey by flying commercial, that would certainly be your prerogative.
“I look forward to seeing you soon and even more forward to watching our open and dangerous Southern Border finally receiving the attention, funding, and security it so desperately deserves!”
In her own letter to Mr Trump on Wednesday, Ms Pelosi called on the president to reschedule his annual address to Congress since “the extraordinary demands presented” by the event could not be met during the shutdown.
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