| February 06, 2020 10:07 AM
President Trump sounds like he is ready to dish out some payback, whatever that looks like.
On Thursday, during his introduction at the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., the president appeared to be in good spirits, holding high for his audience two newspapers whose headlines bore a simple word: “ACQUITTED.”
The crowd loved it.
Later, after former American Enterprise Institute President Arthur Brooks gave an address wherein he implored attendees to resist the allure of treating opponents with contempt, the president took the opportunity to deliver a decidedly different message.
“Arthur,” Trump smiled, “I don’t know if I agree with you.”
After some brief introductory remarks, the president then turned his attention to his recently ended impeachment trial.
“As everybody knows, my family, our great country, and your president have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people,” Trump said. “They have done everything possible to destroy us and, by so doing, very badly hurt our nation. They know what they are doing is wrong, but they put themselves far ahead of our great country.”
As he spoke, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who sat five seats down on the dais from the president, looked apprehensive.
“Weeks ago,” Trump continued, “and again yesterday, courageous Republican politicians and leaders had the wisdom, fortitude, and strength to do what everyone knows was right.”
This is where it appears the president went off-script, taking a darker and more personal tone.
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“I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,” he said. “Nor do I like people who say, ‘I pray for you,’ when they know that is not so.”
Trump’s remarks may have been a direct swipe at Pelosi herself, who told reporters last September that she prays for the president “all the time.” The president’s comments may have also been a knock at Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the only Republican member of the Senate to vote "guilty" on either of the impeachment charges brought against Trump. During a speech Wednesday in the U.S. Senate, Romney claimed his Mormon faith led him to vote “guilty.”
“So many people have been hurt, and we can’t let that go on,” Trump added in a note of warning. “And I’ll be discussing that a little bit later at the White House.”
The Senate voted Wednesday to acquit the president on two separate articles on impeachment, the first being abuse of power and the second being obstruction of Congress. The abuse article was voted down by a margin of 48 to 52, and the obstruction charge was defeated 47 to 53.
On Thursday, as Trump addressed the National Prayer Breakfast, he again appeared to go off-script as he brought his address to a close.
“To the people in this room for the love that they show, not one religion but many religions,” he said. “They’re brave, they’re brilliant, they’re fighters. They like people, and sometimes they hate people. I’m sorry. I apologize. I’m trying to learn. It’s not easy. It’s not easy.”
“When they impeach you for nothing, then you’re supposed to like them? It’s not easy, folks. I do my best,” he said to laughs.
If I did not know any better, I would say the president has moved on already from the victory lap stage of his acquittal and is ready for retribution. Pelosi was probably right to look nervous during his Prayer Breakfast address. I know I would be.
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