Trump dismisses impeachment trial at rally

As the US Senate shifts gear into a new stage of President Donald Trump's impeachment trial this week, Trump mostly steered clear of mentioning the proceedings at a Tuesday (January 28) rally in New Jersey.

The president calls the trial a hoax.

Instead, he focused on New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew.

The lawmaker recently left the Democratic party for the Republicans.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JEFF VAN DREW SAYING:

"Are we going to allow ourselves just to be like any other nation in the world, or are we going to keep America great?"

Van Drew switched his party affiliation last month in protest over Trump's impeachment.

He thanked Trump for his support and called him a man of his word.

Last week in Trump's trial Democrats presented their argument that Trump abused his power by urging Ukraine to look into political rival Joe Biden and obstructed Congress when they tried to look into his actions.

Tuesday's rally began only hours after Trump's lawyers wrapped up their opening arguments.

They're urging acquittal for the president brushing off Democrats' calls for former national security adviser John Bolton to testify.

Trump only briefly touched on the charges against him:

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"While we are creating jobs and killing terrorist, the Congressional Democrats are obsessed with demented hoaxes, crazy witch hunts, and deranged, partisan crusades."

As the rally came to a close, Trump drew on a familiar script boasting great polls and calling the Democrats rage-filled socialists.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"But we're gonna be signing up millions and millions of registered independents, Democrat voters, and today I had the best polls I've ever had since being elected. Remember I used to go over polls, but I only used to talk about them when I was doing well..."