Vice President Mike Pence who had been scheduled to appear at an event in New Hampshire abruptly returns to D.C., and the event which Fox News reports was a “roundtable discussion and deliver remarks on the opioid crisis and illegal drug flow in New Hampshire,” has been cancelled.
This is a breaking news story, so currently there is not a lot of info.
A reporter, Kevin Landrigan, via tweet reported that it was staff for the Vice President that made the announcement.
Staff of @VP announce Vice President Mike Pence called back to Washington cancels NH trip, was a “situation” that required Air Force 2 to return to DC. #nhpolitics
— Kevin Landrigan (@KlandriganUL) July 2, 2019
The Boston Globe is reporting that Massachusetts GOP committeeman Tom Mountain, said that Secret Service said to those in attendance that President Trump had ordered VP Pence back to the White House, “The president called Air Force Two back to Washington. It was about to land and they had to call them back to Washington. I don’t recall that they use the word ‘emergency ‘or ‘crisis,’”
NBC Boston 10 reporter tweeted that the word “emergency” that was first used, is not correct instead it was a “diversion.”
Just told it is not an “emergency” (1st word used) that the @VP is sent back to DC. Now being told it is a “diversion.“. No explanation yet of what that means.
— Alison King NBC10 Boston (@AlisonNBCBoston) July 2, 2019
There seems to be some confusion as to exactly when Air Force Two was called back, but many sources agree that the plane was getting ready to land in New Hampshire.
VP Pence’s Press Secretary Alyssa Farah, tweeted that there is no cause for alarm, something came up that required VP Pence to remain in DC.
Something came up that required the @VP to remain in Washington, DC. It’s no cause for alarm. He looks forward to rescheduling the trip to New Hampshire very soon.
— Alyssa Farah (@VPPressSec) July 2, 2019
A senior White House official said the reason for Pence’s return to the White House “is not health related for the VP or President” and is not “related to national security.” https://t.co/ANBLGvtDXj pic.twitter.com/VaR5lcanhv
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 2, 2019
The President has just in the last 12 minutes tweeted.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
Update.
VP Pence’s office has confirmed that Air Force 2 never took off.
The @VP never left Washington, DC. There was no “emergency callback.” Something came up that required the VP to stay in DC. We’ll reschedule NH shortly. https://t.co/h270JCEUIG
— Alyssa Farah (@VPPressSec) July 2, 2019
PBS News is reporting that White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley said there was no cause for concern.
White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley says this about the VP returning to DC unexpectedly: “Something came up that requires the VP to remain in DC. There is no cause for concern.” He wouldn’t say anything more.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) July 2, 2019
Gidley confirmed that VP Pence is in the West Wing at the White House. But he wouldn’t confirm the topic area or issue that has caused the VP to abruptly return to the White House.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) July 2, 2019
ABC News is reporting that Marc Short, VP Pence’s Chief of Staff, said that the Vice President has discussed the issue with President Trump, but did not give specifics, just stating that it was not “health related” or “National Security related”
VP's Chief of Staff Marc Short just said that the VP was on AF2 at JBA when he was called back. The plane never took off. VP joined POTUS at the WH for "other high level meetings." Issue was "not a national security" but VP discussed whatever it was with POTUS "briefly."
— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) July 2, 2019
For What It’s worth Tara Palmeri also with ABC News is reporting that we’d find out what the issue was that led to the event being canceled “in a few weeks.”
Pence's COS Marc Short told @meridithmcgraw that the Vice President was on the plane but it didn't take off. Then he turned around, back to the White House. He told her we'll find out "in a few weeks" what happened.
— Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) July 2, 2019
The Governor of New Hampshire Chris Sununu (R) who was also scheduled to attend the event in New Hampshire, said that he was not given a reason for the cancellation, but looked forward to the event being rescheduled
NH Gov. Sununu was scheduled to be w/ @VP. Per @brvihsta: "The Governor was not given a specific reason for the change of plans, and was notified right around the same time as the public…Gov Sununu is looking forward to welcoming the Vice President to NH at a later date."
— Meridith McGraw (@meridithmcgraw) July 2, 2019
As noted this is a developing story.
