Defiant in the face of a historic rebuke, President Donald Trump rallied supporters in Michigan on Wednesday night as the House voted to impeach him, declaring, “It doesn’t really feel like we’re being impeached.”
Trump took the stage just minutes before he became the third president in US history to be impeached by the House of Representatives.
“Tonight the House Democrats are trying to nullify the ballots of tens of millions of patriotic Americans,” Trump told his supporters.
The Battle Creek rally was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., but Trump didn’t take the mic until an hour later as the House was in the process of finishing debate and then voting on the first of two articles of impeachment.
“The do-nothing Democrats are declaring their deep hatred and disdain for the American people,” the president lashed out. “This lawless partisan impeachment is a political suicide march for the Democratic Party.”
Addressing the Michigan crowd directly, Trump told them “congressional Democrats are directly attacking 2.3 million Michigan voters.” Trump, in 2016, won the state by less than 1 percent.
“It’s a disgrace. Democratic lawmakers do not believe you have a right to select your own president,” he fumed on stage, flanked by two Christmas trees.
“They think the Washington swamp should be able to veto the results of the election. There’s never been a time like this,” said Trump.
In between bashing the Democrats and their “phoney impeachment.” Trump focused on some of his administration’s accomplishments — including trade deals and record military-aid funding.
Vice President Mike Pence, who warmed up the Kellogg Arena crowd and introduced Trump at Wednesday night’s rally, echoed Republican sentiments that the Democrats are trying to undo the 2016 election.
“You know what’s going in Washington DC tonight is a disgrace,” Pence said. “From day one, Democrats in Washington have been trying to overturn the results of the last election. “
“The truth is,” Pence added of the Democrats, “they’re trying to impeach this president because they know they can’t defeat this president.”
“They’re pushing this partisan impeachment because they know they can’t stop you from giving the president four more years in the White House,” Pence added.
Earlier in the day, leading up to and during the House’s nearly 8-hour debate, Trump took to Twitter to decry Democrats and their impeachment effort.
“Can you believe that I will impeached today by the Radical Left, Do Nothing Democrats, AND I DID NOTHING WRONG!” Trump wrote before the debate began. “A terrible Thing. Read the Transcripts. This should never happen to another President again. Say a PRAYER!” he added.
Later on, amid the hearing, Trump amped up the emotion, sending out a tweet in all caps.
“SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!”
In another post, the president posted a quote from Fox News contributor Andy McCarthy, who argued that the House shouldn’t impeach a president if there’s a low probability for the Senate to convict.
Trump called McCarthy’s remarks “so well stated.”
The impeachment proceedings will now shift to the Senate, where a trial would be held. A two-thirds majority in the GOP-led Senate would be needed to convict Trump.
— With Post wires
