By Morgan Phillips | Fox News
While the House voted to impeach him, President Trump took the stage in front of thousands of supporters who lined up in the bitterly cold weather for his “Merry Christmas” rally at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The rally is the same day that the House of Representatives debated articles of impeachment. For months, House Democrats have been pursuing an inquiry into whether Trump abused his power during a July call with Ukraine.
WITH TRUMP IMPEACHMENT VOTE IMMINENT, PRESIDENT TRAVELING TO BATTLE CREEK, MICH., TO RALLY THE FAITHFUL
“By the way, it doesn’t really feel like we’re being impeached,” Trump opened. “The country is doing better than ever before. We’ve done nothing wrong.”
“The do-nothing Democrats, and they are do nothing, are declaring their deep hatred and disdain for American voter,” with the impeachment process, according to Trump. He called impeachment “political suicide.” “Have you seen my poll numbers in the last four weeks?” Trump added. “They’ve been trying to impeach me since before I ran.”
A staffer interrupted the speech to inform Trump of the outcome of the impeachment vote, which was 229 in favor, 198 against. Trump pointed out that not one Republican voted in favor of impeachment but three Democrats voted against it. “The Republicans has never been so affronted but they’ve never been so united as they are right now.”
“I’m the first person to ever get impeached and there’s no crime!” Trump said, adding that Democrats have “cheapened” the impeachment process.
Trump slammed House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., as a “pathological liar” for the dramaticized version of President Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He mocked Schiff for his looks.”With Me Too, I never even think about looks anymore, OK? I don’t talk about looks of a male or female,” Trump said. “I’ll say, just one last time, Schiff is not exactly the best-looking guy.”
“Didn’t he have eight quid pro quos?” Trump said of Schiff’s version of his phone call read out on the House floor. “You say it eight times they have you arrested they put you into an insane asylum.”
Trump told supporters he was there to “celebrate the miracle of Christmas, the greatness of America and the glory of God.” “Do you notice how everybody is saying Merry Christmas again?”
Trump said that Michigan has had the “best year it’s ever had” due to auto companies “expanding, thriving, coming in from Japan.” “I said, ‘Why are you allowing them to steal your car companies? Why are you allowing them to come in from China?'” Trump recounted from a previous speech in front of Michigan lawmakers.
Trump touted the USMCA trade deal, which is expected to pass the House Thursday as a replacement to NAFTA. “We had tremendous trade barriers with Canada, a tax on dairy products… nobody talked about it.”
Trump blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D.-Calif., for the deal’s delay. “The deal has been sitting with Nancy Pelosi for a long time. She had a lot of pressure from manufacturing farm areas.”
“The Democrats try to take credit for this deal and that’s okay, whatever it takes,” Trump added.
Two protesters rose a sign in the stands with a sign reading “Don the Con you’re fired,” to echoing boos and “USA” chants throughout the arena. “There’s a slob, a real slob. She’ll get hell when she gets back home with mom,” Trump chimed in.
He pivoted back to trade with China. “China’s paying us billions and billions of dollars a year. They never gave us ten cents,” he said, adding that he was leaving many of the 25 percent tariffs, allowing for billions in subsidies to farmers.
