This archive report was first published on 13 October 2019.
October 13, 2019
President Trump took his post-impeachment message of grievance and political warfare directly to the religious right at the Values Voter Summit in Washington.
Speaking to a group of social conservatives, Trump described Democrats as trying to undo the results of the 2016 campaign and 'stop our movement and impose their agenda by any means necessary.'
Trump's remarks came after two nights of raucous campaign rallies, one in Minneapolis and another in Lake Charles, La.
However, at an official White House event, Trump delivered an almost indistinguishable message from behind a podium with a presidential seal.
'I never thought I'd see or hear that word with regard to me,' Trump said. 'Impeachment. To me, it's an ugly word. It means so much; it means horrible, horrible crimes and things. I can't even believe it.'
Trump described himself as the innocent victim of a partisan conspiracy, saying 'First, it was the Russia hoax,' then 'the outrageous smearing of Justice Kavanaugh,' and now 'the outrageous impeachment.'
He also accused Speaker Nancy Pelosi of hating America, saying 'If she didn't hate our country, she wouldn't be doing this to our country. It's a fraud.'
Trump singled out Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, accusing her of harboring deep anti-Semitic sentiments and Representative Adam B. Schiff of 'lying and cheating.'
He also promised the audience that he would continue to defend religious liberty and that 'we will win massive victories for family, faith — just like the victory we had in 2016.'
