{"id":234164,"date":"2019-10-11T03:04:25","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T07:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=234164"},"modified":"2019-10-11T03:04:25","modified_gmt":"2019-10-11T07:04:25","slug":"trump-attacks-biden-slams-impeachment-probe-at-minn-rally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2019\/10\/11\/trump-attacks-biden-slams-impeachment-probe-at-minn-rally\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump attacks Biden, slams impeachment probe at Minn. rally"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
FILE: President Donald J. Trump addresses his remarks prior to signing H.R. 1327; an act to permanently authorize the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Monday, July 29, 2019, in the Rose Garden of the White House. (Photo<\/a>: realdonaldtrump\/Instagram<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

MINNEAPOLIS \u2014 President Donald Trump was defiant in the face of an impeachment probe Thursday as he sought to convert the threat to his presidency into a weapon on the campaign trail, with biting and unsupported attacks on potential Democratic challenger Joe Biden.<\/p>\n

Confronting an investigation provoked by his unprecedented calls for Ukraine and then China to assist in digging up dirt on his political rivals, Trump continued to lay into Biden and his son Hunter, whom he and his allies have accused, without evidence, of illegally profiting off his father’s office.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bidens got rich, and that is substantiated, while America got robbed,\u201d Trump said. While the young Biden did have business interest overseas while he father was in office, there is no evidence of misconduct. Trump’s adult children have faced congressional scrutiny for their foreign business dealings while their father is serving as president, and Trump still maintains ownership stakes in his family’s businesses.<\/p>\n

The rally in Minneapolis, the first since Democrats began proceedings two weeks ago to remove him from office, served as a proving ground for the president as he tries to use the impeachment inquiry to energize supporters for his 2020 campaign by casting himself \u2014 and his supporters \u2014 as victims of Washington Democrats.<\/p>\n

The performance revealed a defence strategy largely detached from the allegations Trump faces. Trump spent little time defending his attempt to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate the Bidens. Instead, he cast the impeachment fight in simpler basic terms \u2014 a battle between him and the \u201cswamp.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want to erase your vote like it never existed,\u201d Trump said. \u201cThey want to erase your voice, and they want to erase your future.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cThe Democrats’ brazen attempt to overthrow our government will produce a backlash at the ballot box the likes of which they have never ever seen before in the history of this country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump was by his own admission fired up and off script as he spoke for more than 90 minutes. Few of his political opponents were spared from insults. He said Biden \u201cwas only a good vice-president because he knew how to kiss Barack Obama’s ass.\u201d He called Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar \u201ca disgrace\u201d and an \u201cAmerica-hating socialist.\u201d He said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was \u201creally stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Omar responded on Twitter, \u201cHis hate is no match for our movement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump turned his cuts to the nation’s refugee resettlement programs into an applause line and defended his decision to \u201cbring our soldiers back home\u201d from Syria, as he faces criticism for abandoning the U.S.’s Kurdish allies to an attack by Turkey.<\/p>\n

Before Trump took the stage, his son Eric warmed up the crowd with an attack on the Bidens.<\/p>\n

The younger Trump asked the crowd for an assessment of how Hunter Biden is feeling and suggested that the familiar Trump rally chant of \u201cLock her up\u201d \u2014 directed at Hillary Clinton \u2014 become \u201cLock him up\u201d instead. The crowd then chanted, \u201cLock him up, lock him up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump fell about 45,000 votes short of beating Democrat Hillary Clinton in Minnesota in 2016. He has had staff in the state since June building a network to turn out supporters next November, and the well-funded Trump campaign says it will spend tens of millions of dollars to try to win the state.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are going to win this state,\u201d Trump said Thursday.<\/p>\n

Protesters converged on Target Center, Minneapolis’ basketball arena, hours before Trump’s appearance, eventually packing the streets surrounding it. Many blew brightly colored whistles handed out by fellow protesters, adding to the din of frequent chants like, \u201cLock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!\u201d \u2014 referring to Trump himself. Some clutched helium-filled balloons depicting Trump as a baby, similar to the famed Baby Trump balloon that flew above a nearby building.<\/p>\n

Lora Torgerson of suburban Inver Grove Heights clutched a sign that read \u201cLiar Liar Diaper on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m a registered GOP member, and I’ve never been more ashamed of our party,\u201d she said. \u201cI didn’t vote for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inside the arena, Lori Glass, a longtime Republican from White Bear Lake, a Twin Cities suburb, dismissed the talking of impeachment with one word: \u201cRidiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe’s done so much for the country,\u201d she said, citing the economy as Trump’s top accomplishment. Democrats are pressing for impeachment because \u201cthey don’t have a good candidate,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Trump planned a rally in Louisiana against Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards. Aides said Trump is not endorsing one of the GOP candidates in the race before Saturday’s election to maximize the chances that Edwards falls below the 50 per cent threshold needed to avoid a runoff.<\/p>\n

Next week Trump is set to hold a rally in Dallas, a GOP stronghold in a state that has grown more competitive for Democrats in recent cycles.<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

Lemire reported from New York. Darlene Superville contributed from Washington and Doug Glass and Kathleen Hennessey contributed from Minneapolis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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