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As it happenedended

Trump news: President says US forces killed terrorists behind Paris attacks, after launching latest insults at John McCain

Updates from Washington as they happened on Wednesday

Sarah Harvard
New York
,Clark Mindock,Joe Sommerlad
Wednesday 20 March 2019 16:52 EDT
Comments
Donald Trump escalates criticism of US war hero: 'I was never a fan of John McCain and I never will be'

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Donald Trump has resumed his attack on George Conway, the husband of White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway, after the latter questioned the president’s mental health.

In response, Mr Trump called the lawyer “a stone cold LOSER & husband from hell!”

Mr Trump has also been accused of “punching at a person that can’t fight back because he’s dead” over his feud with recently deceased Vietnam War hero and Republican senator John McCain.

“I was never a fan of John McCain and I never will be,” Mr Trump said yesterday during a press conference at the White House with Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, prompting the comment from CNN anchor Anderson Cooper on the disrespect being shown to a long-serving American public servant who passed away of brain cancer last August, aged 81.

The ongoing attacks on the late senator has led many to express support for the famed Arizonan, even as the president has continued to double down on his criticism of the war hero.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Trump took a trip to Lima, Ohio, where he visited a tank manufacturing plant and expressed admiration for the "patriotism" he said was on full display in the company.

Before boarding his plane to leave Washington, Mr Trump told reporters that he expects special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian meddling in the 2016 election to be released publicly.

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Mr Mueller's report is expected any day now, with many reports indicating the investigation is winding down or already finished up.

The report would first be sent to the Justice Department, at which point Attorney General William Barr would determine what form of a report he would pass along to Congress for further review.

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Mr Trump just held up a piece of paper that he said has a graph on it, and claimed the audience "doesn't have to know" what is on it.

The audience clapped. He called the line on the graph a "good line". Still didn't really dive into what it was.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:00

Mr Trump is now praising workers at the plant.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:00

A quality systems engineer with plant is now on stage. He says he has witnessed "the highs and the lows" of the economy. He says it is "very rewarding" to have a son in the US military.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:01

Mr Trump has complimented the quality systems engineer who he called up to the podium.

"I thought Adam was the son  ... wow ... whatever you're eating, Adam, keep doing it," he said.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:02

Mr Trump has now brought another individual up to the podium.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:02

Mr Trump says the tank plant "embodies the strength .. of the American spirit" and says that the workers are drawn there by a good paycheck but also patriotism.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:05

For anyone not watching this speech live, Mr Trump is flanked by a pretty big tank right behind him.

Quite the sight.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:05

Mr Trump is now saying that US forces have killed the terrorists responsible for an attack on Americans in Syria, the attacks in Paris, and others.

"We killed them all," he said.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:06

"It is here in Lima, right here, that American greatness is forged with American hands, with American heart, and with American pride," Mr Trump says.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:09

Mr Trump is now wrapping up, and walking off the stage to his usual campaign songs.

Clark Mindock20 March 2019 20:10

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