Trump claimed that the Ukrainian President had exonerated him from any wrongdoing in the quid pro quo scandal in which he asked for dirt on Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden. The scandal ultimately led to his impeachment.
The claim was made about an interview Time had had with the Ukrainian President. The Ukrainian President made no such remarks in the interview.
The centennial in question was the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Coin Act. Trump remarked, “I’m curious why wasn’t it done a long time ago? And also, I guess the answer to that is because now I’m President, we get things done.” He appeared unaware of what a centennial is.
New York Magazine – Trump: Why Wasn’t 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage Observed ‘Years Ago?’
During the 53 minutes, Trump spoke at length about various conspiracy theories and made several false claims about the ongoing impeachment hearings. Among them, Ukraine’s supposed role in tampering with elections, and how the phone call with the Ukrainian leader at the center of the impeachment hearings was made up. He also directly admitted to holding up the military aid that had been agreed upon by Congress, saying, “I mean, I asked it very point-blank, because we’re looking for corruption. There’s tremendous corruption. Why should we be giving hundreds of millions of dollars to countries when there’s this kind of corruption?”
Trump had also previously called in to Fox & Friends.
The New York Times – Trump’s Long List of Inaccurate Statements on ‘Fox & Friends’
Business Insider – Trump essentially admitted on live TV to doing the thing he’s accused of in the impeachment inquiry
The ISIS fighters had managed to escape from Kurdish prisons in the wake of Turkey’s offensive against them. Turkey began offensive operations after Trump unilaterally removed all US forces in the region. Trump appeared unconcerned about European or Kurdish allies.
Axios – Trump on potential ISIS escapees: “They will be escaping to Europe”
Politico – Trump shrugs off ISIS fighters fleeing Syria: They’ll ‘be escaping to Europe’
Greenland is a territory of Denmark. The government of Greenland replied, “We have a good cooperation with USA…Of course, Greenland is not for sale.” The Danish PM also unequivocally rejected the idea. Trump took offense to the Danish PM’s “nasty” response.
NPR – No Joke: Trump Really Does Want To Buy Greenland
The New York Times – Trump’s Interest in Buying Greenland Seemed Like a Joke. Then It Got Ugly.
Trump said, “I’ve always liked American wines better than French wines. Even though I don’t drink wine. I just like the way they look.”
After Trump tried to fire the Special Counsel through White House Counsel Don McGahn, Trump later directed McGahn to put in writing that the request had never been made. The President remarked, “if he doesn’t write a letter, then maybe I’ll have to get rid of him.” McGahn refused, and though Trump backed down from his threat, McGahn ultimately resigned.
McGahn noted that during his tenure, he had been asked to “do crazy shit.”
The Special Counsel originated in an FBI investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and officially formed after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey.
US Department of Justice – Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election (The Mueller Report), pages 86, 115-118
The Hill – Mueller tells House panel Trump asked staff to falsify records
NBC News – Mueller report found Trump directed White House lawyer to ‘do crazy s—“
His remark was,
I just want to thank all the incredible men and women who have done such a great job helping with Florence. This is a tough hurricane — one of the wettest we’ve ever seen, from the standpoint of water. Rarely have we had an experience like it. And it certainly is not good. But the people of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, all of the areas affected, you’ve been incredible.
Hurricane Florence left extensive damage throughout the Carolinas, and was directly responsible for 24 deaths.
New York Magazine – Trump Calls Hurricane Florence ‘One of the Wettest We’ve Ever Seen From the Standpoint of Water’
ABC News – Trump calls Florence ‘one of the wettest we’ve ever seen from the standpoint of water’
Trump made the remarks at a rally in Michigan to explain why he backed funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. His 2020 budget planned to cut funding for the initiative by 90 percent.
The Hill – Trump contradicts his own budget proposal, tells rally crowd he’ll give more money for Great Lakes restoration
Associated Press – Trump backtracks on call to gut $300M Great Lakes program
