President Donald Trump tried his best to take some of the spotlight away from former FBI Director James Comey‘s testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee by giving a speech himself. Trump delivered speech at the Omni Shoreham Hotel for the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Road to Majority Conference. You can watch the entire speech above.
The speech took place just 90 minutes after the start of Comey’s testimony. In his opening statement, Comey confirms that he did tell the president three times that he is not personally under investigation. However, Comey did not agree to say that publicly. Comey’s testimony also corroborated previous reports in the media that he kept memos of his meetings with Trump and the president once asked him to stop the federal investigation into Michael Flynn. Trump previously denied asking Comey to stop the Flynn investigation.
Trump’s personal attorney, Marc Kasowitz, issued a statement after the testimony was released, saying that the president feels vindicated. “The President is pleased that Mr. Comey has finally publicly confirmed his private reports that the President was not under investigation in any Russian probe. The President feels completely and totally vindicated. He is eager to continue to move forward with his agenda,” Kasowitz said.
The Associated Press reports that it appears the White House is trying to keep Trump from watching the testimony, although he has nothing scheduled before his speech at the conference. White House press secretary Sean Spicer told the AP that Trump has an infrastructure summit in the morning though.
The efforts to keep Trump from live-tweeting Comey’s testimony isn’t likely to work. The Washington Post’s Robert Costas reported that Trump might comment on Twitter during the hearing, citing two White House sources. However, this didn’t happen, but Donald Trump Jr. did live-tweet the hearing.
“I wish him luck,” Trump told pool reporters on Tuesday.
As for the Road to Majority Conference, Trump isn’t the only high-profile politician scheduled to speak. Vice President Mike Pence, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senators Joni Ernst and Ted Cruz are just among the many politicians who will speak during the three-day event.
