President Trump said Ukraine should make its own decision concerning whether to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House on Friday. The president suggested he would not approach Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about investigating the Bidens again — as he had previously done in a July 25 phone call.
Asked about whether he wanted Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, Trump said, “No.”
“These people, they’re their own people. I’m not their boss, and I don’t think they’ve done anything, as far as I know,” Trump said, referring to the government of Ukraine.
Trump went on to slam the former vice president and his campaign after Biden underperformed in Iowa. Biden admitted to taking a “gut punch” in the state’s caucuses.
“It’s very sad what happens with the Bidens, and it’s also very sad how he is doing — how he’s doing in the polls,” Trump said. “Now, I understand the votes are fried in Iowa. They couldn’t even take a simple tabulation, and yet they are telling you how to run the country and how to run healthcare.”
Asked if still wants Ukraine to investigate his political opponents following his acquittal, Pres. Trump tells @KyraPhillips, “No. These people, they’re their own people. I’m not their boss and I don’t think they’ve done anything, as far as I know.” https://t.co/JsAo4rBy2e pic.twitter.com/DKa8JYwkes
— ABC News (@ABC) February 7, 2020
Iowa officials have yet to name a winner of the caucuses held on Monday. Democratic Party officials in the state said that glitches in an app used to report results, as well as apparent trouble on their reporting hotline, created significant delays in counting votes and verifying results.
With 96% of the vote in, Biden is in fourth place with 15.8% of the vote. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is leading the contest with 26.2% of the vote Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is just 0.1% behind at 26.1%.
