President Trump on Sunday went on the offensive against Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and the whistleblower who reportedly raised concerns about the president’s interaction with a foreign leader said to be the president of Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump again defended his conduct during the call with Ukraine. He denied that there was a quid pro quo involved in the talks with the Ukrainian president, calling it a “perfect conversation.”
Instead, Trump sought to shift the focus to Biden and the whistleblower, suggesting they had been the ones in the wrong.
Trump described the nature of his July 25 talk with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “largely congratulatory” and focused on corruption before suggesting the Bidens were a point of discussion.
“It was largely the fact that we don’t want our people, like Vice President Biden and his son, [contributing] to the corruption already in the Ukraine,” Trump said as he left for an event in Texas.
“I’m not looking to hurt Biden… but he said a very bad thing. He said a very foolish thing,” Trump added.
He went on to criticize the whistleblower that set off the controversy, saying the official had caused a “false alarm.”
Trump has given mixed messages about the whistleblower in recent days. The president has accused the whistleblower of being “partisan” while admitting he does not know their identity, and he claimed he’s aware his calls with foreign leaders are heavily “populated” while asserting Sunday that he should be able to speak freely without others listening in.
“This whistleblower or whoever it was — because it sounds like it’s not a whistleblower — you can’t have that happen to a president of the United States,” Trump said. “The conversation, by the way, was absolutely perfect. It was a beautiful, warm, nice conversation.”
Multiple outlets reported Friday that Trump pressured the Ukrainian president during a July call to investigate Biden’s son, Hunter.
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JUST IN: Trump goes on offensive against Biden, whistleblower amid Ukraine controversy https://t.co/nlnMX2695t pic.twitter.com/NA5MSoFgXQ
— The Hill (@thehill) September 22, 2019
President Trump: "That call was a great call, it was a perfect call. A perfect call. What wasn't perfect is the horrible thing that Joe Biden said, and now he made a lie when he said he never spoke to his son. I mean, give me a break. He's already said he spoke to his son." pic.twitter.com/i4JMQMPPrD
— The Hill (@thehill) September 22, 2019So is that it? He admitted it? Case closed, right? https://t.co/2MGVCq64rT
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) September 22, 2019
Potus now appears to be saying he talked about both Bidens. Releasing the transcript would clear that up. https://t.co/sc07IpTrLY
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) September 22, 2019
Indeed. Yesterday, he called the whistle-blower a "partisan." Today his word is "spy." That's an admission that the whistle-blower's report is true. Trump must've learned there's corroborating evidence, so he's pivoted to trying to destroy the whistle-blower. This will get ugly. https://t.co/AoK7MEKA72
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) September 22, 2019
Trump, looking very red, basically admits he asked Ukrainian President Zelensky to look into Biden during call that's part of whistleblower complaint: "It was largely [about] fact that we don't want our people like VP Biden & his son creating to the corruption largely in Ukraine" pic.twitter.com/2hvkTbHSJl
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 22, 2019
I’d say Trump has admitted he talked to the new Ukranian president about the Bidens, but then again, half the time I don’t know what he is saying. For a supposedly well educated, successful businessman, Trump is appallingly inarticulate. Perhaps it’s deliberate to confound his opponents (enemies), but he comes off as unable to effectively communicate. he’s fine with a prepared speech, but left to his own devices, the man just doesn’t know how to talk. Or at least it seems that way.
And no, Donnie, not everything is perfect, beautiful, tremendous and all the other over-the-top adjectives he loves to throw around.
Trump does it every time. He denies and denies, his supporters get out on a shaky limb, and then he saws it off behind them. https://t.co/yv8227qX6A
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) September 22, 2019
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