"The Biggest Witch Hunt in History"..Trump's Counterattack Amid Impeachment Crisis

Attempt to Rally Supporters at Border Wall... Congressional Speech "Was Appropriate"
Impeachment Causes Rift Within Republican Party... Third-Ranking Member Also "Supports Impeachment"

U.S. President Donald Trump is looking at the nameplate with his name attached to the border wall on the 12th.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Donald Trump, who is under pressure from Congress for impeachment and removal from office, appeared publicly for the first time since the Capitol riot on the 12th (local time) and launched a counterattack. Despite President Trump's opposition, the House of Representatives plans to push forward with a resolution to invoke the 25th Amendment for removal from office on the same day and an impeachment resolution the following day.

President Trump appeared for the first time since the Capitol riot. He gave a speech at the Mexico border wall near the Alamo in Texas, claiming, "The 25th Amendment poses no threat to me."

◇ Trump: "The biggest witch hunt in history" = President Trump's visit came as the House, led by Democrats, was scheduled to pass a resolution urging the invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove him from office.

With only eight days left in his term and facing pressure for removal and impeachment, President Trump attempted to rally his supporters in front of the border wall, a symbol of his presidential campaign and anti-immigration policy. The only means for President Trump to express his position are speeches or interviews. Twitter and Facebook, which he used to mobilize his supporters, have permanently suspended or temporarily blocked his accounts.

Before visiting the border wall, President Trump met with reporters at the White House and said that the congressional impeachment efforts against him are causing "tremendous anger," calling it "the biggest witch hunt in history." He stated, "My speech was completely appropriate," denying any responsibility for incitement. CNN reported that despite the chaos caused by the Capitol riot, President Trump went ahead with the visit for his supporters. The political media outlet Politico described the event as "President Trump holding an event in front of a partially completed border wall to prove he carried out his anti-immigration policy."

President-elect Joe Biden pledged to halt the construction of the border wall, but President Trump argued, "It is unimaginable for the next administration to tear down the wall. The wall is so important that no one should touch it."

◇ Third-ranking Republican also supports impeachment = While the Senate impeachment of President Trump remains uncertain, cracks are emerging within the Republican Party.

According to U.S. media, starting with Representative John Katko (New York) in the afternoon, Representatives Liz Cheney (Wyoming) and Adam Kinzinger (Illinois) publicly declared their support for the impeachment resolution one after another. Liz Cheney, the daughter of Dick Cheney who served as Vice President under the George W. Bush administration, is the third-ranking member of the Republican Party.

Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House Majority Leader, decided not to officially request Republican members to vote against the impeachment resolution. Attention is focused on how many Republican rebels will actually vote for impeachment in the House vote on the 13th. The New York Times reported that Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate Majority Leader, is privately pleased with the impeachment resolution against President Trump. The political media outlet The Hill also reported that McConnell might even vote in favor of President Trump's impeachment.

On the other hand, Vice President Mike Pence sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stating that he cannot apply the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office.

Meanwhile, President-elect Biden is scheduled to announce his economic stimulus plan on the 14th, a day after the House vote on President Trump's impeachment resolution. The Washington Post forecasted that the plan will include a $2,000 cash payment but will fall short of $2 trillion in scale. President-elect Biden hopes the stimulus package will pass bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.