Trump news: Senators call for 'nothing but the truth' in final plea for witnesses after president's lawyers reject calls for Bolton testimony
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump’s legal team delivered its closing remarks at the US Senate impeachment trial on Tuesday, working to discredit the Democratic-led investigation into the president’s conduct towards Ukraine and fixating on Hunter Biden.
The final defence comes as Democratic senators have characterised their arguments as “nonsensical”, “absurd” and “incredibly surreal”. The team of attorneys gave their closing remarks, which ends the initial phase of the trial, just as a new survey indicated a staggering majority of millennials across the country support the impeachment against Mr Trump, with 63 per cent of those surveyed saying they want senators to vote to remove the president from the Oval Office.
The US Senate was set to vote at the end of the week about whether to add witnesses to the ongoing trial, following a leak of former National Security Adviser John Bolton’s new memoir that appeared to directly connect Mr Trump to demand for political investigations into Joe Biden.
The president has meanwhile unveiled his ambitions plans to bring peace to the Middle East today alongside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just before heading to Wildwood, New Jersey, for his latest "Keep America Great" rally.
He also backed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in his battle with National Public Radio and tweeted out more media criticism, one target familiar and the other less so.
Mr Trump introduced Mr Pompeo at an East Room announcement of the administration's Mideast peace plan, saying it was "very impressive" that he got a standing ovation from the White House workers and guests.
"That reporter couldn't have done too good a job on you," the president said. "I think you did a good job on her, actually."
NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly angered Mr Pompeo with a short interview on Friday, then he reportedly berated her afterward in his office. The State Department then announced Monday that NPR reporter Michele Kelemen would not be allowed on Mr Pompeo's upcoming trip to Europe and Central Asia; NPR had no immediate comment on the president's remarks on Tuesday.
Earlier Tuesday, the president tweeted an insult at CNN's Don Lemon, who received some criticism in conservative media for hosting a segment over the weekend where two of his guests made fun of the "rube demo" that backed Mr Trump.
He also tweeted criticism of his favourite network, Fox News Channel, for "trying to be 'politically correct"' by having a Democratic senator discuss impeachment on the network.
The president said Fox's Chris Wallace, who on Monday challenged a Fox contributor for not having her facts straight in a discussion about impeachment witnesses, shouldn't be on the network.
"What the hell has happened to Fox News?" Mr Trump tweeted. "Only I know!"
Additional reporting by Associated Press. Please allow a moment for our live blog to load
Donald Trump has tweeted shortly after releasing his Middle East peace plan, writing: "I will always stand with the State of Israel and the Jewish people. I strongly support their safety and security and their right to live within their historical homeland. It's time for peace!"
Donald Trump is weighing in on his own attorneys' closing remarks in the US Senate impeachment trial in real-time:
The US Senate is in a 15 minute recess amid Donald Trump's attorneys delivering their closing remarks. Stay tuned for further updates as they come in.
George Conway, prominent Washington attorney and husband to Donald Trump’s White House Senior Adviser Kellyanne Conway, has once again mocked the president in a series of viral tweets highlighting his apparent lack of geographical knowledge.
From seemingly thinking “Belgium is a city” to believing “there are countries on this planet called ‘Nipple’ and ‘Button’”, the notable conservative lawyer attacked Mr Trump over reports claiming the president is all but aloof when it comes to geopolitical issues.
Mr Conway’s Twitter thread came after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly berated an NPR reporter who was asking him about the president’s Ukraine scandal which sparked an impeachment inquiry in Congress. Mr Trump has been accused of withholding crucial military aid to Ukraine as it fought a war with Russia while demanding the country’s president announce political investigations into his own 2020 political rival, Joe Biden.
Story to come...
Senators are expressing doubts over the Trump team's defence against calls for former National Security Adviser John Bolton from delivering testimony:
The US Senate is back after its recess and Donald Trump's team is concluding its opening remarks. Stay tuned for updates.
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone said the “articles of impeachment fall far short” of standards set by the US Constitution.
He's now playing old clips of Democratic lawmakers speaking out against the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has taken the floor after Donald Trump's team concluded its closing remarks. He said he reached a plan with the Democrats on how best to conduct the next phase of the trial.
Senators will complete the 16-hour questioning period over the next two days, with eight hours tomorrow and eight hours on Thursday.
A new poll shows the vast majority of Americans believe witnesses should be permitted to deliver testimony under oath in the US Senate's impeachment against Donald Trump:
The lead Democratic impeachment manager Adam Schiff said this to reporters after today's closing arguments: "It's clear, I think, today that they are still reeling from the revelation of John Bolton's book and what he has to say. The very relevant and probative quality of testimony that he should give the Senate."
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