Trump news: President rages over impeachment talk as Nancy Pelosi attacks immigration hypocrisy over Melania
President posts tweet claiming 'the case is closed' after Robert Mueller's surprise public statement
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Donald Trump is facing rejuvenated calls for his impeachment by House Democrats following FBI special counsel Robert Mueller's surprise statement on Wednesday in which he suggested only Justice Department policy prevented his team from charging a sitting president with a crime.
Mr Trump was quick to declare “The case is closed!” on Twitter but 2020 challengers Kamala Harris and Cory Booker called on Congress to hold the president to account while House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has so far attempted to resist “divisive” impeachment proceedings, said: “Nothing is off the table”.
Quickly moving on to a fresh controversy, Mr Trump has been forced to deny asking the US Navy to have its destroyer the USS John S McCain, named after the late senator and Trump antagonist, kept “out of sight” during his recent four-day trip to Japan.
The Pentagon’s acting chief, Patrick Shanahan, said he never authorised attempts to make sure Mr Trump would not see the USS John S. McCain at its homeport in Japan and would have his chief of staff investigate. Trump said he was not involved in the matter.
Mr Trump, who long feuded with Mr McCain, told reporters at the White House that he “was not a big fan” of the Arizona Republican and onetime presidential nominee “in any way, shape or form.” But, Mr Trump added, “I would never do a thing like that.”
“Now, somebody did it because they thought I didn’t like him, OK? And they were well-meaning, I will say,” he said, while insisting he was kept in the dark.
The order that a Navy destroyer be kept out of sight reflected what appeared to be an extraordinary White House effort to avoid offending an unpredictable president known for holding a grudge, including a particularly bitter one against Mr McCain.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that a US Indo-Pacific Command official wrote an email to Navy and Air Force officials about Mr Trump’s Memorial Day weekend visit, including instructions for preparations for the USS Wasp, where he was to speak.
Mr Trump tweeted late Wednesday that he “was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. McCain during my recent visit to Japan.”
Still, he added Thursday that he “was very, very angry with McCain because he killed health care. I was not a big fan of John McCain in any way, shape or form.”
Additional reporting by AP. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load
Donald Trump thanked the parents of Air Force Academy graduates for raising "rock-ribbed American patriots". The parents are now receiving a standing ovation as graduates wave at their parents.
Donald Trump is now pledging to shake every single graduate's hand before leaving the ceremony.
"To dominate the future, America must rule the skies," Donald Trump says. "You're gonna win so much, you're gonna get tired of winning, but not really. Not really. We never get tired of winning, do we? No!"
Donald Trump is receiving a lot of laughs for his jokes at the Air Force Academy graduation ceremony. He's telling graduates they beat out nine out of 10 applicants who are rejected from the school, and "hundreds of thousands" others who "know they don't even have a chance" and decline to apply.
Donald Trump is referring to Air Force cadets who are still facing restrictions for pranks. "Keeping with tradition, I hereby absolve, or pardon all cadets facing restrictions and confinements. And that you've earned," the president said. "Isn't that nice?"
Donald Trump is congratulating two Air Force cadets who are Rhodes Scholars. "That's a big fat congratulations from me," the president said.
Donald Trump has invited a graduate who won the Home Run Derby athletics award to the front of the stage, saying, "Wow, I want to feel this guy's muscles."
"It's real, they're real," the president confirmed. "That's a big deal."
"A lot of good looking people in this school, I have to say," the president said.
"You are ready to fly, fight and win. Always win," Donald Trump said. "You exemplify the grit, the guts and the grace that make America's Air Force the best in the world."
"Our country is doing well, our country is respected again," Donald Trump said.
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