[ad_1]
Trump is now expected to leave Palm Beach ahead of his annual New Years party, even though guests had already gathered at his South Florida club and were told Trump would be attending, according to three people familiar with the matter. The president generally likes to appear on the red carpet in front of the press and his friends, but skips the event entirely this year in what will be an unusual move.
He was in an irritated mood for most of the trip and ranted about everything from the election result and renovations to First Lady Melania Trump to his private quarters, according to several people who spoke to him.
At one point, Trump also said he feared Iran might retaliate in the coming days for the U.S. drone strike that killed Iran’s senior general Qasem Soleimani a year ago. One person speculated that this could be a contributing factor to his early departure. Trump was in Mar-a-Lago when he ordered Soleimani’s strike on January 3, 2020.
Before leaving for Palm Beach, he learned about Vice President Mike Pence’s role in the certification process at Capitol Hill, which is primarily ceremonial. While on his way to Florida for his vacation, Trump retweeted a call from one of his supporters asking Pence to refuse to ratify the Electoral College count on January 6.
While in Florida, Trump repeatedly raised the Jan.6 date with members of Congress and other associates, according to people familiar with the conversations. He lobbied senators to find out if they would agree to join the House Conservatives in opposing the results.
Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, became the first senator to say Wednesday he would oppose it, which will delay – but not change – the results of the constituency count.
Trump also tweeted to his supporters that he would see them in Washington on that date, in reference to large protests planned in the capital.
In Florida, Trump has been surrounded by people who mostly support his failed electoral efforts, including his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and son Donald Trump Jr. and girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle. Even though he publicly fights the results, one question he’s often polled people on is whether he should attend Biden’s inauguration.
Trump recently told people that Pence isn’t doing enough to fight for him at the end of his presidency, and recently took an interest in Pence’s traditional role in certification. As President of the Senate, Pence chairs the debates.
Sources say Trump, ahead of his vacation, raised the issue with the vice president and was “confused” as to why Pence cannot overturn the Jan.6 election results. Pence and the White House staff tried to explain it to him. that his role is more of a formality and that he cannot unilaterally reject the votes of the electoral college.
Pence had already planned to take a trip abroad soon after certification on Jan.6. But travel plans to the Middle East and Europe have now been put on hold, people familiar with the matter said.
Pence spent the Christmas holidays on vacation in Vail, Colorado.
[ad_2]
Source link