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Trump to respond to impeachment acquittal after attacking Democrats at prayer breakfast – live Trump celebrates impeachment acquittal by lashing out at 'evil' opponents – live
(31 minutes later)
Trump spoke at the national prayer breakfast ahead of speech at the White House later, while report shows Iowa results ‘riddled with inconsistencies’ Trump speaks at the White House for the first time since his acquittal, while report shows Iowa results ‘riddled with inconsistencies’
Trump specifically thanked Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, who organized Republican senators to block witness testimony and ensure the president’s acquittal in the impeachment trial.
“Mitch McConnell, I want to tell you, you did a fantastic job,” Trump said, prompting another standing ovation.
For comparison, when Bill Clinton addressed the public after his Senate acquittal in 1999, he began by expressing how “profoundly sorry” he was for actions.
Trump’s remarks after his Senate acquittal is turning into a screed against all of the probes into his administration, starting with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference.
“We first went through Russia, Russia, Russia,” Trump said. “It was all bullshit.”
That last comment will likely rankle the television networks who are carrying Trump’s remarks live.
Even Trump described his remarks not as a speech but as a “celebration” after the Senate acquitted him in the impeachment trial.
“This is really not a news conference, it’s not a speech,” Trump said. “It’s not anything. It’s just we’re sort of ... it’s a celebration, because we have something that just worked out. I mean, it worked out. We went through hell unfairly, did nothing wrong.”
“I’ve done things wrong in my life, I’ll admit,” Trump continued. “But this is what the end result is,” he added, holding up a copy of the Washington Post’s front page, reading, “Trump Acquitted.”
Trump immediately launched into attacks on his critics as he started delivering his remarks on the Senate impeachment trial.
“It was evil, it was corrupt, it was dirty cops, it was leakers, it was liars,” Trump said.
The president even mentioned former FBI director James Comey, who was fired by Trump nearly three years ago.
“Had I not fired James Comey, who was a disaster by the way, it’s possible I wouldn’t even be standing here right now,” Trump said.
Trump has arrived in the East Room to deliver remarks on his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial and was greeted with a prolonged standing ovation from his allies sitting in the audience.
The president’s legal team, who defended him during the Senate impeachment trial, was greeted with a standing ovation as they arrived to witness Trump’s remarks.
As we await the president’s arrival for his remarks on the impeachment trial, Capitol Police issued a statement saying officers responded to a report of a suspicious substance in the Rayburn House office building.
According to Politico, the suspicious substance was near the office of lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff.
In just a few minutes, the president is scheduled to deliver remarks about his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial at the White House.In just a few minutes, the president is scheduled to deliver remarks about his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial at the White House.
Some of the members of Trump’s impeachment defense team have already arrived to witness the speech.Some of the members of Trump’s impeachment defense team have already arrived to witness the speech.
During her press conference, Nancy Pelosi said House Democrats “have no plans right now” to subpoena former national security adviser John Bolton.During her press conference, Nancy Pelosi said House Democrats “have no plans right now” to subpoena former national security adviser John Bolton.
The former Trump administration official said he would testify in the Senate trial if subpoenaed, but the Senate voted against calling new witnesses in the trial.The former Trump administration official said he would testify in the Senate trial if subpoenaed, but the Senate voted against calling new witnesses in the trial.
House judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler said yesterday that his panel “will likely” subpoena Bolton.House judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler said yesterday that his panel “will likely” subpoena Bolton.
Nancy Pelosi brushed off a question about whether she had stepped on her own message about Democrats remaining composed in the face of Trump’s taunts when she ripped up the president’s State of the Union address.Nancy Pelosi brushed off a question about whether she had stepped on her own message about Democrats remaining composed in the face of Trump’s taunts when she ripped up the president’s State of the Union address.
“That was not a state of union, that was his state of mind.” Pelosi said, arguing her actions were “entirely appropriate.” She added that Trump’s apparent rejction of her handshake at the onset of the speech meant “nothing to me.”“That was not a state of union, that was his state of mind.” Pelosi said, arguing her actions were “entirely appropriate.” She added that Trump’s apparent rejction of her handshake at the onset of the speech meant “nothing to me.”
“I feel very liberated,” Pelosi said. “I feel I’ve extended every possible courtesy, I’ve shown every level of respect.”“I feel very liberated,” Pelosi said. “I feel I’ve extended every possible courtesy, I’ve shown every level of respect.”
When she was earlier asked about whether she can still work with Trump, Pelosi said, “That would be up to him. ... We’ve had a strained relationship for a while, and we were able to keep the government open.”When she was earlier asked about whether she can still work with Trump, Pelosi said, “That would be up to him. ... We’ve had a strained relationship for a while, and we were able to keep the government open.”
Nancy Pelosi was particularly critical of Trump’s comments this morning at the National Prayer Breakfast, where he implicitly insulted the House speaker and Republican senator Mitt Romney.Nancy Pelosi was particularly critical of Trump’s comments this morning at the National Prayer Breakfast, where he implicitly insulted the House speaker and Republican senator Mitt Romney.
Pelosi has said she prays for the president, and Trump seemed to take a shot at that when he said at the prayer breakfast, “Nor do I like people who say, ‘I pray for you,’ when they know that that’s not so.”Pelosi has said she prays for the president, and Trump seemed to take a shot at that when he said at the prayer breakfast, “Nor do I like people who say, ‘I pray for you,’ when they know that that’s not so.”
On Romney, who invoked his faith yesterday to explain his vote to convict Trump, the president said, “I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong.”On Romney, who invoked his faith yesterday to explain his vote to convict Trump, the president said, “I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong.”
Pelosi said Trump’s comments about Romney were “particularly without class.”Pelosi said Trump’s comments about Romney were “particularly without class.”
“I dont know if the president understands about prayer or the people who do pray,” Pelosi said. “He’s talking about things he knows little about: faith and prayer.”“I dont know if the president understands about prayer or the people who do pray,” Pelosi said. “He’s talking about things he knows little about: faith and prayer.”
Speaking to reporters at her weekly press conference, Nancy Pelosi applauded Republican senator Mitt Romney for voting to convict Trump on the first article of impeachment.Speaking to reporters at her weekly press conference, Nancy Pelosi applauded Republican senator Mitt Romney for voting to convict Trump on the first article of impeachment.
“God bless him for his courage,” the House speaker said of Romney.“God bless him for his courage,” the House speaker said of Romney.
Pelosi also reiterated that Trump would be impeached “forever,” arguing the president’s legacy would be permanently marred by the House vote. “You’re never getting rid of that scar,” Pelosi said.Pelosi also reiterated that Trump would be impeached “forever,” arguing the president’s legacy would be permanently marred by the House vote. “You’re never getting rid of that scar,” Pelosi said.
Nancy Pelosi’s criticism extended beyond Trump to include the Republican lawmakers who chanted “Four more years!” during Tuesday’s State of the Union address.
The House speaker said the chant was a “serious breach” of protocol and was “totally inappropriate.”
A number of commentators said the State of the Union had the atmosphere of one of Trump’s campaign rallies.
Nancy Pelosi accused Trump of taking credit for the economic accomplishments of the Obama administration in his State of the Union address, which the House speaker called “appalling.”
Pelosi read off some statistics about US economic growth under the Obama administration to underscore her point. “The president didn’t inherit a mess,” Pelosi said. “He inherited a momentum.”
She also took aim at Trump’s repeated boasting about the stock market. “He still hasn’t even matched President Obama’s growth in the stock market,” Pelosi said.
Nancy Pelosi has arrived for the House speaker’s weekly press conference, her first appearance since Trump was acquitted in the Senate impeachment trial.
But Pelosi opened her remarks by taking aim at Trump’s claims in the State of the Union address on Tuesday. (The House speaker caused a stir when she ripped up her copy of the president’s remarks after he wrapped up the speech.)
Pelosi’s staff handed out a factsheet about Trump’s false claims, and the House speaker accsued Trump of having “used the Congress of the United States as a backdrop for a reality show.” She added Trump had “a state of mind that had no context with reality whatsoever.”
The White House has said Trump’s 12 pm ET remarks about his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial are “not a perss conference,” so don’t expect the president to take any questions.
According to a pool report, the White House has also made clear there will not be seats for press during the remarks.
Despite Trump’s acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial, the president’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said he plans on “ramping up” his investigations into Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
The Daily Beast reports:
Following the Senate’s vote to acquit Trump, Republican senator Rick Scott is now proposing raising the voting threshold for the House to approve articles of impeachment.
This effort is a long shot at best, considering constitutional amendments can only be approved at a constitutional convention (which won’t be called anytime soon) or by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate (which won’t happen as long as Democrats control the House).
But it’s notable that Republicans are still trying to cast a cloud of illegitimacy over the House’s impeachment of Trump, even after he was acquitted by the Senate.
The results that are still coming in from the blighted Iowa caucuses on Monday night are littered with errors, an analysis by the New York Times has found.
Trump tilts at Romney and Pelosi
Speaking at the national prayer breakfast, which is happening now and can be watched live here, Trump has alluded to the support for his impeachment by both Mitt Romney and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who led the process.
Pelosi has often said she prays for the president. Trump didn’t mention either opponent by name, but after tilting at Utah Republican Romney he also said, implying Pelosi: “ Nor do I like people who say, ‘I pray for you,’ when they know that that’s not so.”
He added: “So many people have been hurt, and that cannot go away. I will be discussing that a bit later at the White House.”
The president appeared to tilt at Mitt Romney in the opening of his address to the national prayer breakfast in Washington, which is underway.
He began by thanking his loyal Republican ranks for their “wisdom, fortitude and strength to do what everyone knows was right”. Trump was acquitted yesterday in his impeachment trial, by the Republican majority in the Senate.
But one person became the first Senator in history to vote in an impeachment trial to remove a president from their own party - Mitt Romney, Senator of Utah, voted to convict Trump yesterday, saying it was his obligation to adjudicate fairly having taken an oath to do so before God.
Moments ago, Trump said: “I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong.”
The president is going to address the topic of his impeachment trial more fully at the White House at midday - we’ll be covering that live, of course.
Donald Trump Jr has called for Romney to be expelled from the party.
The Iowa bump appears to be helping only one Democratic presidential candidate in New Hampshire: Pete Buttigieg.
As the Iowa results show Buttigieg locked in a close race for first with Bernie Sanders, a new poll found the former Indiana mayor on the rise in the second voting state of New Hampshire.
According to the latest Boston Globe/WBZ-TV/Suffolk University poll, Buttigieg has jumped into second place in New Hampshire, attracting support from 19% of the state’s likely voters.
In comparison, Sanders hit 25%, a strong showing but one that is only one percentage point higher from the outlets’ last poll.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren are languishing behind the front runners at 12% and 11%, respectively, while undecided voters register at 14%.
There are still five days until the primary in New Hampshire, a state that is well known for often making a different decision than Iowa. But the numbers indicate Biden and Warren, who are hoping for a strong showing there after failing to come in the top two in Iowa, could be in some trouble.