U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordan Sondland said he and President Trump often use profanity when they speak, drawing laughs from those attending his public impeachment hearing.
The disclosure came as Sondland, 62, was being questioned about a July 26 phone call between him and Trump, which embassy official David Holmes claims he overheard. Holmes told investigators that while at a restaurant in Kyiv, he heard Sondland tell Trump that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “loves your ass.”
Speaking before the House Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, Sondland said that while he didn’t recall the specifics of what was said, Holmes’s description of the call made sense.
“Yeah, that sounds like something I would say,” Sondland said to laughter. “That’s how President Trump and I communicate. A lot of four-letter words. In this case, three-letter.”
Sondland testified Wednesday that there was a quid pro quo for Zelensky to secure a meeting and phone call with President Trump. He maintained he did not have direct evidence that those conditions were directly tied to military aid to the country.
Last year, Trump nominated Sondland for the role. He donated $1 million to the president’s inaugural committee in 2017.
