The president wasted no time firing Ambassador Gordon Sondland after he claimed impeachment victory. During the impeachment investigation, Sondland said Mr. Trump did quid pro quo President Zelensky. Sondland donated $1 million to Trump’s campaign and Trump rewarded him by appointing him EU ambassador.
Sondland tried to walk back his remarks when Congress found out some of his testimony didn’t jibe with the facts. But in the end, Gordon’s testimony hurt the president. Firing Gordon gave the president the feeling of revenge he’s famous for, according to the Washington Post.
Sondland wasn’t the only impeachment witness to hear the words, “you’re fired” from the president. Alexander Vindman, a White House National Security Council member, also got the ax for letting White House lawyers know the president crossed a security line during his July 25th Zelensky phone conversation. Mr. Trump also fired Vindman’s twin brother, Yevgeny Vindman. Yevgeny is also a member of the National Security Council staff. He didn’t testify, but keeping the Vindman twin around was not an option Trump entertained.
White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney may be the next West Wing official to get the ax, according to several news reports. Mick shot himself in the quid pro quo foot when he told the press Mr. Trump tried to shake Zelensky down so he could prove Ukraine, not Russia interfered with the 2016 election.
Mr. Trump let his impeachment revenge show when he trashed Nancy Pelosi at the non-partisan National Prayer Breakfast. Pelosi attacked Pelosi’s faith. The church leaders who attended the breakfast thought the president crossed a line never crossed before during the yearly breakfast. The president let the Democrats know he’s ready to continue to battle Congress. And Pelosi said Congress won’t stop presenting information that will prove he’s unfit for office.
The U.K.’s Boris Johnson wants a tariff-free trade deal with the U.S. this year. But Johnson’s decision to sign a 5G contract with Huawei may hurt Johnson’s ability to get the deal he wants from Mr. Trump. During a recent phone conversation, President Trump let Johnson know crossing him by using Huawei’s 5G services is a stupid move.
According to several sources, Mr. Trump came down hard on Boris during the call. But Johnson didn’t back down during the president’s fit of anger. According to British reports, the relationship between the two leaders may be shaky, but both countries will work out their differences.
Dil Bole Oberoi
