Trump news - live: White House sends threatening letter to Bolton, as key witness unexpectedly appears at impeachment trial
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has raged at his ex-national security adviser John Bolton, saying the Ukraine claims made in his forthcoming new memoir are “nonsense” and declaring he would have started “World War Six” if he had not been removed from office last September as the Republican effort to discredit him continues.
A new poll by Quinnipiac University has meanwhile found that 75 per cent of Americans want to hear from Mr Bolton at the president’s Senate impeachment trial as GOP majority leader Mitch McConnell is forced to admit he does not currently have the votes to stop Democrats calling new witnesses to speak out.
And, as fallout has continued to come in from Mr Bolton's apparent book, a letter was released showing that the White House attempted to stop it from being published before the leaked manuscript, arguing that it contains classified information (others have pointed out that Mr Bolton has a long history handling US classified information, so it may be questionable that he would actually include such information in a book write-up).
President Trump delivered his latest Keep America Great rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, last night after unveiling his highly controversial two-state solution to bring peace to the Middle East at the White House, which was cheered by Israel but met with angry protests by Palestinians.
During the ongoing impeachment efforts on Wednesday, Mr Trump's lawyers argued that because the president believes it to be in the country's best interest to win re-election, he could not have done anything wrong by encouraging an investigation into his rival by a foreign government.
And, Lev Parnas showed up at the US Capitol demanding that he be called as a witness in the Senate.
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Donald Trump signing the USMCA
From The Independent's Washington DC bureau chief John T Bennett: Mr Trump joked - or did he? - at an event to sign his Nafta-replacing trade pact with Canada and Mexico that he is just nice to Republican lawmakers "because I need your vote."
As he called out GOP member after GOP member, the president said senator Ted Cruz - once a bitter rival - was chomping at the bit to "get back over there and ask those questions," referring to the coming 16 hours of senators questioning both sides in the impeachment trial. "I bet he's got some beauties," he said of Mr Cruz's questions.
Donald Trump signing the USMCA
Trump jokes that he won't name the cabinet members on the South Lawn today because senator Ted Cruz wants to get back to the Capitol.
Now, Trump is claiming his new deal will alleviate pain in 'devastated' parts of the US he says were hurt by Nafta.
Donald Trump signing the USMCA
Trump jokes that he only wants to call out people during his address on the South Lawn if they're investing a lot in American jobs.
"Anything over 2 billion you're allowed to stand. Anything over 2 billion you can stand otherwise we don't want you to stand," he joked.
Donald Trump signing the USMCA
Mike Pence is up at the mic, and he chooses to thank Trump "for simply keeping your word, for fighting on behalf fo the forgotten men and women of America".
"I want to say with a grateful heart that we are here mostly because we have a president who will always put America first. Thank you Mr President, and congratulations," he said.
Donald Trump signing the USMCA
Trump now back on, said the most important people on the South Lawn are the workers there, despite all all "the power and wealth and status in front of me".
He then pivots to celebrating the recent China trade deal his administration announced, which has been met with skepticism since it was released.
Donald Trump signing the USMCA
Trump has now invited industry leaders to come up to the stage, alongside his cabinet.
"This will be very historic," he said.
"Senators, come on up," he said, before pleading with them: "Please, please come up."
He then said he's going to take care of the senators.
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are also up on stage, as is Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader.
Donald Trump signing the USMCA
And, with that, the USMCA deal has been signed.
While passing out pens, from the signing as souvenirs, one of them was dropped.
Donald Trump signing the USMCA
The signing ceremony is now over, here are some photos from the event:
Trump on the South Lawn before signing the USMCA
Trump on the South Lawn before signing the USMCA
'Call the witnesses ... Donald Trump knew everything'
Lev Parnas, the businessman who helped Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani in Ukraine, has arrived on Capitol Hill today, to the surprise of reporters.
"Call the witnesses," he said when asked what he would say to senators if he were able to get a meeting . "The president knew everything that was going on in Ukraine. ... There was many quid pro quos."
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