Before Key Testimony, Trump Lashes Out

It could be a troubling day for President Trump in terms of impeachment testimony, and he unleashed a series of tweets Tuesday morning to undermine the credibility of a key witness. "Why are people that I never even heard of testifying about the call," Trump tweeted. "Just READ THE CALL TRANSCRIPT AND THE IMPEACHMENT HOAX IS OVER! Ukrain said NO PRESSURE." The tweet came hours before the testimony of a White House official who listened in on Trump's July call with Ukraine's leader, notes Politico. In an opening statement released in advance, Lt. Col Alexander Vindman of the National Security Council said he worried that Trump's pressure on Ukraine to launch an investigation into the Bidens would undermine US national security, per the Hill.

Trump criticized Vindman Tuesday without mentioning him by name. "Supposedly, according to the Corrupt Media, the Ukraine call 'concerned' today's Never Trumper witness," Trump tweeted. "Was he on the same call that I was? Can't be possible! Please ask him to read the Transcript of the call. Witch Hunt!" Trump didn't elaborate on why he viewed the NSC official as a "Never Trumper." Vindman, who showed up to testify Tuesday in his military uniform, was born in Ukraine but fled with his family as a child. On Tuesday, Trump allies suggested he had more loyalty to his native land than to the US. "We all have an affinity to our homeland where we came from," said Rep. Sean Duffy. "Like me, I'm sure that Vindman has the same affinity."