In his first public remarks on impeachment after being acquitted by the Senate, the president took a celebratory victory lap, praising individual Republican lawmakers, applauding his defense team, and defending his conduct in front of a room full of supporters.
"This is really not a news conference, it's not a speech. It's not anything, it's just — we are sort of — it's a celebration," he said while calling the impeachment a "disgrace" and claiming he "went through hell unfairly."
Prominent Trump allies like Attorney General Bill Barr, Republican counsel during House proceedings Stephen Castor, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) were spotted in the audience as the president attacked Democrats and Republicans alike while calling for his lawyers and allies to stand for applause.
"We went through hell unfairly — did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong. I've done things wrong in my life, I will admit — not purposely, but I've done things wrong," Trump said to a few laughs before holding up the front page of today's edition of The Washington Post with the headline "Trump Acquitted." Though nearly all Republican senators voted to acquit the president, many did not defend his behavior as perfect, including Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who said the president's actions were "inappropriate."
Trump used profanity to describe Democrat-led investigations against him and attacked former FBI Director James Comey who he ousted in 2017. Trump brought up a variety of grievances, like the Mueller investigation, and name-checked enemies like House Intel Committee Chair Adam Schiff, who he called a "vicious, horrible person," and Comey, who he called a "disaster."
During a National Prayer Breakfast earlier in the day the president called Democrats "corrupt" for impeaching him. Pelosi, at a press conference shortly before the president's remarks from the East Room of the White House, admonished the president for his morning comments at the bipartisan, multi-faith event.
The president retorted by calling Pelosi, who has referenced her Catholic faith in the past, a "horrible person" who he "doubt[s] prays at all."
Trump was acquitted on two impeachment charges Wednesday for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to the withholding of nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine. House Democrats argued he used the money to pressure the Ukrainian president to announce investigations into political rival former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Trump is just the third president to be impeached and acquitted.
After his trial more than 20 years ago, then-President Bill Clinton struck a different tone in his post-impeachment address. Clinton addressed the nation from the Rose Garden without an audience of supporters, stating: "I want to say again to the American people how profoundly sorry I am for what I said and did to trigger these events and the great burden they have imposed on the Congress and on the American people."
