House Speaker Nancy Pelosi clearly hit a nerve this week when she rescinded President Donald Trump’s invitation to deliver the State of the Union to Congress. On Thursday, after surprising observers by remaining silent on the issue, Trump released a letter announcing that he had canceled military arrangements for an international trip that would have taken her to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan, where she would have visited military personnel.

Trump surely hoped this rebuke would impose a due penalty to Pelosi’s norm-breaking decision to essentially cancel his State of the Union speech — but he seems to have gone too far.

While the move may have pleased some of his supporters, it looked particularly petty and even reckless with regard to national security. Many observers on Twitter were quick to mock and denounce the move.

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

The childish tantrum continues. https://t.co/XZIG3hP2Y7

— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) January 17, 2019

My first reaction when reading this was that it was like the fake Washington Post copies circulating yesterday. No one can be this unpresidential and petty, can they? (And then I remembered who the President was.) https://t.co/b0f6SMeQvD

— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) January 17, 2019

https://twitter.com/kjhealy/status/1085984885116936193

It took them a day to come up with this.

Meanwhile we have entered Day 27 of the #TrumpShutdown and they are in the West Wing writing a childish letter as 800,000 federal workers are going without pay. Unbelievable.

And it’s Madam Speaker. Not Madame. https://t.co/Qvbzrn0iKy

— Bobby L. Rush (@RepBobbyRush) January 17, 2019

The point, as ever, was to try and show Pelosi that she needs him. But the thing is: she actually doesn't.

— Pwn All The Things (@pwnallthethings) January 17, 2019

https://twitter.com/Susan_Hennessey/status/1085989982253301761

These trips by members of Congress to war zones are generally done in secret. As for the value of these trips, it's worth reminding that members of Congress vote to send other Americans into harm's way. Having them see what that means is important. https://t.co/mseT0H0NQx

— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) January 17, 2019

Also, I know 4-year olds who are better at oneupmanship.

— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) January 17, 2019

If you’re waiting for your paycheck from the federal government, buckle up. The pettiness is full blown and there is literally no end in sight. Trump hasn’t responded to State of the Union letter but clearly personally helped put together this letter to Pelosi on her travel.

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) January 17, 2019

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