With impeachment almost over, Trump faces Congress in prime-time speech

By Steve Holland

 

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., January 30, 2020. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With the impeachment drive against him ebbing, U.S. President Donald Trump faces his Democratic accusers on Tuesday night at a State of the Union speech where he is expected to push his case for another four years in office.

 

Trump, a Republican, may be tempted to lash out at the Democratic critics seated before him in the U.S. House of Representatives, seeing it as a chance for payback against those who sought to oust him through what he calls a "witch hunt."

 

Some of his aides and allies, however, have pressed for him to avoid a confrontation.

 

"I hope he will smother people with the milk of human kindness," Republican Senator Pat Roberts told reporters on Monday.

 

The Republican-led Senate is almost certain to end the impeachment drive on Wednesday with a vote to acquit him.

 

His speech, which starts at 9 p.m. ET (0200 GMT) on Tuesday, affords Trump the opportunity to advance his message for what is likely to be a hard-fought battle for re-election on Nov. 3.

 

At least seven Democrats said they would not attend the speech.

 

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an outspoken Trump critic, said on Twitter that she would stay away so as not to "normalize Trump's lawless conduct & subversion of the Constitution."

 

Representative Ayanna Pressley also said she would not attend. Pressley and Ocasio-Cortez are two of the four minority congresswomen who Trump derisively urged last year to leave the country.

 

Aides say there has been an internal debate inside the White House over whether Trump should even bring up impeachment in his speech. A senior administration official said on Monday night that Trump was not expected to delve deeply into the issue, if at all.

 

Trump himself has said he plans an upbeat speech offering an optimistic vision at a time when Washington - and the rest of the country - is polarized over his leadership.

 

He plans to highlight the strength of the U.S. economy and its impact on blue collar and middle class workers while also touting achievements like a China trade deal and another trade pact with Mexico and Canada.

 

Trump is also expected to offer to work with his political opponents on issues like reducing healthcare costs and drug prices and rebuilding infrastructure, officials said.

 

But with the two parties immersed in election-year politicking, no major legislative action is expected this year.

 

Trump is expected to contrast his vision for healthcare with the plans advanced by his Democratic rivals, a reference to left-leaning proposals by two of the Democratic presidential candidates he frequently attacks, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

 

Democratic leaders, meanwhile, said they would bring more than 80 patients, doctors and healthcare advocates as guests to focus on Trump’s ongoing efforts to undercut the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

 

"There's a high likelihood later tonight that President Trump will gloat about how Republicans want better, cheaper healthcare for everybody. But in reality President Trump and congressional Republicans have put America’s healthcare in grave danger," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference.

 

Trump is also expected to promote his efforts to limit migrants from crossing the southern U.S. border and will bring as a guest the brother of a man who the White House said was killed by an immigrant who was in the United States illegally.

 

Trump will also highlight national security moves such as his decision to kill Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani with a U.S. drone strike. The White House invited the widow and son of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Hake, who was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb that the White House said Soleimani supplied.

 

The president has held out little hope for bipartisan cooperation this year in the wake of the impeachment fight, saying he doubted Democrats would want to work with him.

 

"I'm not sure that they can do it, to be honest," Trump told the Fox network in a Super Bowl Sunday interview.

 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who will be seated behind Trump when he addresses Congress, told the New York Times that she has not spoken to Trump since October.

 

The State of the Union speech is attended by Democratic and Republican lawmakers from both the House and the Senate as well as such VIP guests as Cabinet secretaries and Supreme Court justices. The television audience for last year's speech was estimated at 47 million people.

 

(Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, Lisa Lambert and Jeff Mason; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-05

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Watching Nancy squirm is going to be fun.

Really, the headline should be reversed: Congress will face Trump after a partisan impeachment sham.

Just now, Crazy Alex said:

Really, the headline should be reversed: Congress will face Trump after a partisan impeachment sham.

 

The expectation tonight is he will keep it low key and positive. It's Trump* so you never know but I think tomorrow is when you will roast them whole in their skin. Will be interested to see how Nancy and him greet each other. 

 

You know Trump* is dying to lash out but it would be better to deliver a very gracious speech. His last SOU speech was one of the greatest of all time. 

48 minutes ago, webfact said:

"[...] to be honest," Trump told the Fox network

 

 

 

".... affords Trump the opportunity to advance his message for what is likely to be a hard-fought battle for re-election on Nov. 3"

 

LOL - this election is already over - the only question is how bad the damage will be to the Democrats.  My prediction is they will end up with their lowest vote and least wins in any previous election. 

 

3 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

The expectation tonight is he will keep it low key and positive. It's Trump* so you never know but I think tomorrow is when you will roast them whole in their skin. Will be interested to see how Nancy and him greet each other. 

 

You know Trump* is dying to lash out but it would be better to deliver a very gracious speech. His last SOU speech was one of the greatest of all time. 

Good summary.  But being a brash new york billionaire and not a practiced slimy two-faced politician (why he was elected) he may come across as 'fake' if he doesn't at least bite them a little.  Gracious is not his natural style - and I doubt he will try to be that - but maybe a little 'reserved'.  But then again it may depend on how they treat him as he enters the colluseum ????

Either way - it is going to be epic.  Perhaps even beat his last SOU which was the best since Reagan.

2 minutes ago, AussieBob18 said:

Good summary.  But being a brash new york billionaire and not a practiced slimy two-faced politician (why he was elected) he may come across as 'fake' if he doesn't at least bite them a little.  Gracious is not his natural style - and I doubt he will try to be that - but maybe a little 'reserved'.  But then again it may depend on how they treat him as he enters the colluseum ????

Either way - it is going to be epic.  Perhaps even beat his last SOU which was the best since Reagan.

 

That's true but he also does what it takes when he really needs to. He can go full nuclear tomorrow. Also please be gentle to our leftist friends. They are just beginning to cope with the idea there will be an election. It will take a little more time for them to come to the foregone conclusion it's one they won't win. 

A troll post has been removed.   Continue and face a suspension.  

Let's see: his yearly 30 minutes of acting presidential or a complete ****- show and rambling propaganda?

2 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

That's true but he also does what it takes when he really needs to.

Certainly, when it comes to lying, then he is certainly the best on the planet and certainly the worst US president ever for this, so he does best in this category without a doubt. He is also best in the "dumbest ever" category, so if that's what "doing what it takes when he really needs to" is all about, then dumbo is your man.

 

2 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

They are just beginning to cope with the idea there will be an election.

Yes, it looks like this fraud will have had the backing of his cronies, and certainly there will be an election, and those people who care not about truth, morals, dignity and manners will certainly vote for him.

 

I believe that his penchant for eating hamburgers, and his well overstated waistline, will cause his demise so no need to worry about the future..........only about how to clear a $3 trillion deficit.

33 minutes ago, Saint Nick said:

Let's see: his yearly 30 minutes of acting presidential or a complete ****- show and rambling propaganda?

Great speech. Must hurt for some to watch. Pelosi ripped his speech in half on his way out. 

3 minutes ago, rabas said:

Great speech. Must hurt for some to watch. Pelosi ripped his speech in half on his way out. 

Almost all lies. I don't see how that can be seen as great. Thanks to Pelosi for tearing it up. 

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

11 minutes ago, rabas said:

Great speech. Must hurt for some to watch. Pelosi ripped his speech in half on his way out. 

Almost all lies. I don't see how that can be seen as great. Thanks to Pelosi for tearing it up. 

It's pretty bad when pretty much everyone knew that Trump was going to lie about the economy before he even gave his speech. 

This is the reality....

 

[History tells us much of what he says will be false or misleading.

The president told a lie recently in a speech at Davos that we should expect to hear again: that the economy he inherited from Barack Obama was "in dismal shape."]

 

[It's one of more than 1,500 lies or misleading statements President Trump has made since his inauguration on the economy alone, according to The Washington Post Fact Checker. He has made more than 16,000 false or deceptive statements on all issues combined.]

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/since-you-wont-get-them-in-the-state-of-the-union-here-are-some-facts-on-the-trump-economy/ar-BBZDzNw?ocid=wispr

 

That's one constant from our Liar-in-Chief, he will never stop lying.

 

3 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

Watching Nancy squirm is going to be fun.

 

TRIGGERED

After what she did (tearing the speech papers) it's hard to see impeachment as anything else as a political ploy based on blind hatred.

This woman is politically finished...and she knows it.

 

 

Edited February 5, 20206 yr by JHolmesJr

27 minutes ago, rabas said:

Great speech. Must hurt for some to watch. Pelosi ripped his speech in half on his way out. 

Yeah great!

"Great" seems to be a really low bar for some!

CNN: TRUMP APPEARED TO SNUB PELOSI AS SHE TRIED TO SHAKE HIS HAND.

 

No, you nitwits, he didn't appear to.....he actually DID.

 

Another reason why normal people hate CNN

23 minutes ago, Saint Nick said:

Yeah great!

"Great" seems to be a really low bar for some!

Did you watch the speech? Compare Pelosi's emotional maturity with Trump's. That has been the problem all along. No matter how low you may view Trump, the Democratic party has scrambled to stay well below him. Thus Trump will be your next president. It has been the Democratic party's choice all along.

 

Not me do.

6 minutes ago, rabas said:

Did you watch the speech? Compare Pelosi's emotional maturity with Trump's. That has been the problem all along. No matter how low you may view Trump, the Democratic party has scrambled to stay well below him. Thus Trump will be your next president. It has been the Democratic party's choice all along.

 

Not me do.

Let me get this straight because I may need to order some smelling salts on lazada.

You're implying that 45 has emotional maturity?

i only saw the first 30 minutes but i'm calling the part i saw a great speech.  simple, bullet point statements.  didn't make a fool of himself and didn't throw out blatant lies (we know he's prone to do both).  i loved watching pelosi in the background, her impeachment strategy failed (might even have screwed biden more than trump) and she's got to be hating the iowa results fiasco - a temporary stain on the party.  and now trump is standing right in front of her speaking to the nation - a really bad day for nancy !! 

Edited February 5, 20206 yr by buick

59 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

CNN: TRUMP APPEARED TO SNUB PELOSI AS SHE TRIED TO SHAKE HIS HAND.

 

No, you nitwits, he didn't appear to.....he actually DID.

 

Another reason why normal people hate CNN

If CNN had said Trump snubbed Pelosi, tge complaint from his apologists would be that CNN are misinterpreting Trump’s actions or lack there of.

 

Did Trump snub Pelosi, well I agree it looks like he did, but then he might have suffered another one of those moments when he looses track of what he was doing.

5 minutes ago, buick said:

i only saw the first 30 minutes but i'm calling the part i saw a great speech.  simple, bullet point statements.  didn't make a fool of himself and didn't throw out blatant lies (we know he's prone to do both).  i loved watching pelosi in the background, her impeachment strategy failed (might even have screwed biden more than trump) and she's got to be hating the iowa results fiasco - a temporary stain on the party.  and now trump is standing right in front of her speaking to the nation - a really bad day for nancy !! 

‘Didn’t throw out any blatant lies’?!

 

Yeh right!

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/02/04/fact-checking-president-trumps-2020-state-union-address/

14 minutes ago, buick said:

i only saw the first 30 minutes but i'm calling the part i saw a great speech.  simple, bullet point statements.  didn't make a fool of himself and didn't throw out blatant lies (we know he's prone to do both).  i loved watching pelosi in the background, her impeachment strategy failed (might even have screwed biden more than trump) and she's got to be hating the iowa results fiasco - a temporary stain on the party.  and now trump is standing right in front of her speaking to the nation - a really bad day for nancy !! 

What can go wrong reading from script. The award was strangely out of place. 

5 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

The expectation tonight is he will keep it low key and positive. It's Trump* so you never know but I think tomorrow is when you will roast them whole in their skin. Will be interested to see how Nancy and him greet each other. 

 

You know Trump* is dying to lash out but it would be better to deliver a very gracious speech. His last SOU speech was one of the greatest of all time. 

Blimey Lincoln must be turning in his monument. She ripped it up probably for use in the bathroom later. Greatest of all time one doesn't know here to start - so I won't ! I feel sorry for my beloved Queen for like Melania she needs to pretend to like him. 

Edited February 5, 20206 yr by URMySunshine

5 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

 

 

You know Trump* is dying

OMG ...... You just put my heart into palpitation mode. And then I read on.

1 hour ago, rabas said:

Did you watch the speech? Compare Pelosi's emotional maturity with Trump's. That has been the problem all along. No matter how low you may view Trump, the Democratic party has scrambled to stay well below him. Thus Trump will be your next president. It has been the Democratic party's choice all along.

 

Not me do.

 

26 minutes ago, buick said:

i only saw the first 30 minutes but i'm calling the part i saw a great speech.  simple, bullet point statements.  didn't make a fool of himself and didn't throw out blatant lies (we know he's prone to do both).  i loved watching pelosi in the background, her impeachment strategy failed (might even have screwed biden more than trump) and she's got to be hating the iowa results fiasco - a temporary stain on the party.  and now trump is standing right in front of her speaking to the nation - a really bad day for nancy !! 

So lies, lies, some more lies and propaganda...that counts for "greatness" nowadays?!

Got it!

 

Just did a skim thru of SOTU speech.

Wow...Pelosi was suffering death by a thousand cuts up there.

Great speech by the bossman.

6 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

Watching Nancy squirm is going to be fun.

It was fun. She's a real class act. You go girl. Caught a short glimpse of Shifty; that also was comical.

If I know Trump, that act of tearing is going to cost Nancy dearly.

He will probably do the same to one of her House bills very soon.

Perhaps metaphorically if not for real.

12 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

If I know Trump, that act of tearing is going to cost Nancy dearly.

He will probably do the same to one of her House bills very soon.

Perhaps metaphorically if not for real.

Think you right. That Trump is such a petulant child.