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Trump turns ire on aide who testified against him | |
(32 minutes later) | |
US President Donald Trump says he is "not happy" with a White House aide who is expected to be removed after he testified in the impeachment hearings. | US President Donald Trump says he is "not happy" with a White House aide who is expected to be removed after he testified in the impeachment hearings. |
Lt Colonel Alexander Vindman is leaving the National Security Council (NSC) for the Pentagon, according to sources. | Lt Colonel Alexander Vindman is leaving the National Security Council (NSC) for the Pentagon, according to sources. |
But the president denied reports that his Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney is also for the chopping block. | But the president denied reports that his Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney is also for the chopping block. |
Mr Trump is said to desire a staff shake-up after senators cleared him in the impeachment case on Wednesday. | Mr Trump is said to desire a staff shake-up after senators cleared him in the impeachment case on Wednesday. |
What next for Alexander Vindman? | What next for Alexander Vindman? |
"I'm not happy with him [Lt Col Vindman]," said the president. "You think I'm supposed to be happy with him? I'm not." | "I'm not happy with him [Lt Col Vindman]," said the president. "You think I'm supposed to be happy with him? I'm not." |
"They'll make that decision," Mr Trump told reporters as he left the White House for North Carolina on Friday, in a possible reference to Lt Col Vindman's senior US Army officers. | "They'll make that decision," Mr Trump told reporters as he left the White House for North Carolina on Friday, in a possible reference to Lt Col Vindman's senior US Army officers. |
According to White House sources, Lt Col Vindman had expected a transfer. He has been telling colleagues for weeks that he is ready to move to back to the defence department, where he still holds active-duty soldier status. | According to White House sources, Lt Col Vindman had expected a transfer. He has been telling colleagues for weeks that he is ready to move to back to the defence department, where he still holds active-duty soldier status. |
But Lt Col Vindman was still working at the White House on Friday. | But Lt Col Vindman was still working at the White House on Friday. |
On Friday, US Defence Minister Mark Esper told reporters: "We welcome back all of our service members, wherever they served, to any assignment they're given. | On Friday, US Defence Minister Mark Esper told reporters: "We welcome back all of our service members, wherever they served, to any assignment they're given. |
"And as I said we protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that." | "And as I said we protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that." |
What next for Mick Mulvaney? | What next for Mick Mulvaney? |
In his comments to the press, Mr Trump also said reports that Mr Mulvaney would be fired were "false". | In his comments to the press, Mr Trump also said reports that Mr Mulvaney would be fired were "false". |
"I have a great relationship with Mick," said Mr Trump. | "I have a great relationship with Mick," said Mr Trump. |
North Carolina lawmaker Mark Meadows is being tipped by the Washington rumour mill as a replacement for Mr Mulvaney. | North Carolina lawmaker Mark Meadows is being tipped by the Washington rumour mill as a replacement for Mr Mulvaney. |
Mr Meadows, who is retiring from the House of Representatives where he led the hardline conservative Freedom Caucus, travelled with Mr Trump on Air Force One on Friday. | Mr Meadows, who is retiring from the House of Representatives where he led the hardline conservative Freedom Caucus, travelled with Mr Trump on Air Force One on Friday. |
At a rare White House press conference in October, Mr Mulvaney appeared to implicate the president in an alleged corrupt deal with Ukraine. | At a rare White House press conference in October, Mr Mulvaney appeared to implicate the president in an alleged corrupt deal with Ukraine. |
The acting chief of staff told stunned reporters: "We do that all the time." Mr Trump was reportedly outraged by the gaffe. | The acting chief of staff told stunned reporters: "We do that all the time." Mr Trump was reportedly outraged by the gaffe. |
Mr Mulvaney then walked back his comments in a written statement that said: "Let me be clear, there was absolutely no quid pro quo between Ukrainian military aid and any investigation into the 2016 election." | Mr Mulvaney then walked back his comments in a written statement that said: "Let me be clear, there was absolutely no quid pro quo between Ukrainian military aid and any investigation into the 2016 election." |
How did Vindman annoy Trump? | How did Vindman annoy Trump? |
Lt Col Vindman is a Ukraine expert who testified to a House impeachment panel last November. | Lt Col Vindman is a Ukraine expert who testified to a House impeachment panel last November. |
He said he was "concerned" after hearing Mr Trump's "improper" phone call on 25 July last year with Ukraine's president. | He said he was "concerned" after hearing Mr Trump's "improper" phone call on 25 July last year with Ukraine's president. |
The call led to Mr Trump's impeachment in December by the House for abuse of power. Democratic lawmakers argued the president had dangled US aid in exchange for political favours. | The call led to Mr Trump's impeachment in December by the House for abuse of power. Democratic lawmakers argued the president had dangled US aid in exchange for political favours. |
When asked how he had overcome his fear of retaliation in order to testify, he answered: "Congressman, because this is America... and here, right matters." | When asked how he had overcome his fear of retaliation in order to testify, he answered: "Congressman, because this is America... and here, right matters." |