Trump says he would 'love' to host Ukrainian president at White House
President Donald Trump said Saturday he is eager to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, a comment that comes as the president faces an impeachment inquiry over whether he held up a such a meeting to force Ukraine to investigate a political rival.
“I would love to have him come to the White House if he'd like to come, and I think he'd like to come," Trump told reporters at the White House, calling Zelensky "a good man."
House investigators have gathered evidence that Trump sought to withhold nearly $400 million of military aid to Ukraine and refuse a White House meeting with Zelensky until the Ukrainian leader publicly stated his intention to launch an investigation into Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter over their dealings with Ukraine.
Trump last met with Zelensky at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in late September, on the day the White House released an edited transcript of a phone call between the two leaders that is now the subject of the impeachment inquiry.
Zelensky, who took office in May, saw a meeting with Trump as a way to lend credibility to his administration and legitimize his poll win.
Trump's comments come days after the House formalized the ground rules for impeachment proceedings against the president.
After explosive testimony over the past two weeks from White House and State Department officials, Democrats have lined up eight further witnesses to appear in closed testimony during the House recess next week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she expects public hearings to begin as early as this month.
The president addressed reporters on his way to New York to attend the Ultimate Fighting Championship match at Madison Square Garden later Saturday.
