Originally Posted by
John Carr
I'm sure someone knows, I didn't really follow much. But why the Speaker of the House and NOT the Sec State?
If the visit was not coordinated with the WH... Nancy is a member of the legislative branch, and is mostly free to do what she wants. The executive (the administration) isn't her boss. The executive can forbid US citizens from traveling to specific countries for national security reasons, but that's an extreme measure. And it cannot be selectively applied to specific individuals, it would legally have to be all or nothing. Most famously, Cuba.
If the visit was coordinated with the WH (appears that it was)... a congress person is actually less inflammatory than SECSTATE. The former is an elected rep of one congressional district. The later is a member of the executive, and the direct rep of POTUS and the United States.
Nancy sends a stronger message than a junior congress critter from Oklahoma. But not as strong a message as SECSTATE, VPOTUS, or the man himself.