Trump lashes out at ‘rigged election’ moments after sharing Christmas video with Melania

Gino Spocchia,Alex Woodward and Graig Graziosi
·2 min read
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Donald Trump spent Christmas Eve on the golf course after congressional Republicans struck down a Democrat-backed attempt to increase the amount of aid handed to Americans as part of the latest Covid-19 relief package, which the president said on Tuesday did not go far enough.

It comes as Mr Trump was accused of leaving Americans “adrift” after he arrived in Florida for Christmas on Wednesday, leaving the coronavirus relief package unsigned and a military spending bill threatened by a veto in his wake.

The president and First Lady Melania Trump released a message to Americans on Christmas Eve, highlighting the work of first responders, teachers and scientists working on the coronavirus vaccine to end the “terrible pandemic.” Moments after sharing the video on Twitter, the president lashed out at Republicans for their inadequate response “over the fact that the Democrats stole the rigged presidential election.”

The president pardoned more disgraced personal aides on Wednesday, including his one-time campaign chairman Paul Manafort and adviser Roger Stone, who were both sentenced for lying or not cooperating with the Robert Mueller investigation. Two others, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former adviser George Papadopoulos, have also been pardoned.

The president pardoned more disgraced personal aides on Wednesday, include Mr Trump’s one-time campaign chairman Paul Manafort and adviser Roger Stone, who were both sentenced for lying or not cooperating with the investigation. Two others, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former adviser George Papadopoulos, have also been pardoned.

Former acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe called the pardons “remarkably disgusting," and claimed they were “undermining the system of justice that he is supposed to protect and defend.”

The New York Times spoke with Iraqi citizens about Mr Trump pardoning the Blackwater mercenaries. One man, who was shot in the leg during the massacre in Nisour Square, said the American justice system was “just theatre.”

The president’s fury at the election results continued, with Mr Trump vowing on Twitter to “NEVER FORGET” the Republicans who he claims “sit back and watch me fight against a viscous and crooked foe.” He personally named Sen. Mitch McConnell in the tweet.

He also lamented Twitter’s continued use of tags claiming his posts contain false or misleading information regarding the 2020 election. The president said that the company was “dangerous” and that fact checking was the way “communism starts.” He attributed the company’s policy to “cancel culture.”