Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

We Now Know Which Part of Trump Defense Lawyer's Opening Statement Enraged Trump the Most and We Get It

We Now Know Which Part of Trump Defense Lawyer's Opening Statement Enraged Trump the Most and We Get It
C-SPAN // MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Former President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in his last week in office after his constant lies about the 2020 election prompted a mob of pro-Trump extremists to storm the United States Capitol in a deadly failed insurrection.

On Tuesday, Senators heard arguments from the House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team on whether the deliberative body has the authority to hold an impeachment trial for a President who is no longer in office.


Using founding documents and past precedent, Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) argued in the affirmative, delivering an opening argument that was widely praised for its use of logic, coupled with a harrowing video breakdown of the deadly failed insurrection at the Capitol that spurred Trump's impeachment in the first place.

After Raskin and other House impeachment managers made their argument, Trump defense lawyer Bruce Castor addressed the Senate in a rambling 45 minute diatribe that was thin on any coherent case for why the Senate should refuse to hear the trial.

Even pro-Trump figures like former Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz were left befuddled by the argument.

At one point, Castor admitted that his partner on Trump's defense team—David Schoen—was meant to deliver the first remarks, but that they switched the order after seeing the strength of the House impeachment managers' opening argument.

Watch below.

Castor said to the Senate and the millions watching the trial:

"I'll be quite frank with you, we changed what we were going to do on account that we thought the House managers' presentation was well done, and I wanted you to know that we have responses to those things."

The lawyer went on to express surprise that the House team began with a video detailing the Capitol riots and the gravity of Trump's transgressions, instead of focusing solely on the legitimacy of a Senate trial for a former president.

Soon after the day's arguments were over, reports trickled in that the former President was enraged at his defense team's ineptitude.

A report by Maggie Haberman of the New York Times further confirmed Trump's frustration, particularly his ire at the commendation Castor publicly gave to the Democratic House impeachment managers.

According to the report:

"That one of his own lawyers praised the prosecutors surprised and infuriated Mr. Trump, people familiar with his reaction said. And other Trump allies said privately that some members of the legal team seemed surprised by the raw clips from the riot that the Democrats showed, even though the House managers had signaled for days that was their plan."

Trump's unwillingness to concede praise (or elections) to his perceived enemies has been widely on display since even before Trump was President.

Whatever provoked Trump's anger, his critics were glad to hear of his diminished faith in his own defense team.





Castor's argument was widely mocked across the internet.




The next round of arguments begins on Wednesday at 12 pm Eastern time.

More from People/donald-trump

Nancy Mace
Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Former Aide Calls Out Rep. Nancy Mace Over The Reason She's Wearing A Sling After 'Assault'

Republican South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace was accused of being a "crisis actor" online when she showed up wearing an arm sling after claiming to be attacked by a "pro-trans" man at the Capitol building.

Mace is a vocal opponent of transgender rights who championed a resolution banning House members and staffers from "using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex."

Keep ReadingShow less
Amy Adams; Drew Barrymore
@thedrewbarrymoreshow/TikTok

Amy Adams Hilariously Flustered After Not Realizing What 'Netflix And Chill' Means

Actor Amy Adams let on more than she intended when she described her favorite thing to do with her husband, and she immediately blushed after realizing her gaffe.

Adams stopped by The Drew Barrymore Show to promote her new black comedy film Nightb*tch alongside the movie's director Marielle Heller.

Keep ReadingShow less
Harrison Butker
Cooper Neill/Getty Images

FEC Filing Reveals MAGA Kicker Harrison Butker's Christian PAC Was Just A Scam

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was criticized after a Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing showed that his UPRIGHT PAC to mobilize Christians to vote for "traditional values" did not spend any funds allocated to political activities, such as lobbying or “get out the vote” initiatives.

However, over $30,000 went toward fundraising efforts, with an additional $100 spent on office supplies, according to watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which uncovered the financial records.

Keep ReadingShow less
Elon Musk; Donald Trump
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images (left and right)

Musk Gloats After Trump Says He'll Allow Billionaires To Avoid Environmental Protections

Billionaire Elon Musk was criticized after gleefully sharing President-elect Donald Trump's Truth Social post claiming that billionaires and their companies will get "expedited approvals" that avoid environmental regulations once he takes office.

Trump earlier suggested he would fast-track approvals for projects that inject at least $1 billion into the U.S. economy, writing the following message on Truth Social:

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Trump Ripped After Backtracking On Promise To Lower Grocery Prices

After pledging for months that he would lower grocery prices, President-elect Donald Trump was criticized after he admitted to Time magazine that it's "very hard" to do so, completely backtracking on his promise.

Trump, who was named the publication's Person of the Year for the second time, stated that one of the key issues Democrats and his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, fail to grasp about the American people is that "they want to be able to buy groceries at a reasonable price and not have to turn off their heat in order to buy two apples."

Keep ReadingShow less