Trump derides ‘ridiculous partisan investigations’ in State of the Union
President Trump on Tuesday ripped what he called “ridiculous partisan investigations” during his State of the Union address as House Democrats prepare a range of probes into his administration.
“An economic miracle is taking place in the United States and the only thing that can stop it are foolish wars, politics or ridiculous partisan investigations,” Trump said during his remarks from the Capitol.
“If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way,” Trump said.
Trump’s remarks come as a cadre of powerful House committees prepare to launch wide-ranging investigations into him and his administration.{mosads}
The president is also contending with special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing probe into Russian election interference and potential coordination between his campaign and Moscow — a probe he regularly lambasts as a partisan “witch hunt.”
On Tuesday, Trump cast investigations into his administration as contrary to American interests. He did not specifically mention the Mueller probe or Democrat-led investigations.
“We must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad,” Trump said. “This new era of cooperation can start with finally confirming the more than 300 highly qualified nominees who are still stuck in the Senate, in some cases years and years waiting.”
“Now is the time for bipartisan action,” he said.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who was seated behind Trump during his address, smirked during the key moment in his address. Her political Twitter account immediately shot back, writing that the legislative branch “has the responsibility to exercise oversight of the other branches of government.”
“We would be delinquent in our duties if we failed to provide the necessary oversight,” it wrote.
House Democrats, equipped with new oversight and subpoena powers following the November midterm elections, are launching a flurry of investigations into Trump and his White House.
The House Intelligence Committee is reviving its investigation into Russian election interference and will hear from Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen behind closed doors on Friday.
The House Judiciary Committee is also planning to grill Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker in a public hearing Friday that is largely expected to focus on Mueller’s investigation and his oversight of it.
And the Oversight and Reform Committee has announced a wide-ranging probe into the White House security clearance process, demanding a trove of files from the administration on current and former officials related to their background investigations and clearances.
Meanwhile, many suspect Mueller’s investigation to be in its later stages, though it remains unclear when the probe will ultimately wrap up. The former FBI director is expected to send a report to the Justice Department on his findings upon the investigation’s conclusion.
The special counsel has brought charges against six Trump associates in connection with the probe but has not alleged any conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Moscow. The president has denied any collusion between his campaign and the Russian government.