By Umar Farooq
WASHINGTON (AA) – After calling for Democrats and Republicans to unite on Wednesday, U.S President Donald Trump threatened retaliation if he were investigated by the Democrats following the midterm elections.
At a news conference at the White House, Trump said the “government would come to a halt” if the Democrats begin an investigation on him about his tax returns.
“And I would blame them because they now are going to be coming up with policy, ” Trump said referring to the Democrats.
His comments came after he called for both sides to set aside partisanship and work together.
The president said he was looking forward to working with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is pegged to become the majority leader.
Pelosi, the top House Democrat, on Tuesday called for bipartisanship in working with the Republicans.
“Now is the time for members of both parties to come together, put partisanship aside and keep the American economic miracle going strong,” Trump said.
Pelosi held a parallel news conference, saying Congress has a “constitutional responsibility” for oversight when asked about subpoenaing the president’s tax returns.
“Hopefully we can just make the request and the information will come in,” she said.
With the Democrats’ win, the party has control of the committee oversights and subpoena control to probe the Trump administration,
Trump put his own take on the success the Republican party had during elections Tuesday, saying it defied history despite losing a majority in the House of Representatives.
Trump praised the party’s gains in the Senate and wins in key gubernatorial races, curbing the “blue wave” many Democrats were hoping to come about.
“This election marks the largest Senate gains for a president's party in a first midterm election since at least President [John] Kennedy's in 1962, ” Trump said.
Trump blamed the losses on Republican incumbents who retired and those who did not embrace him, including Barbara Comstock of Virginia and Mia Love of Utah.
“Mia Love gave me no love, and she lost. Too bad,” Trump said.
Later in the news conference, Trump went into a fury, jabbing at reporters and engaging in verbal altercations.
“CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them you are a rude, terrible person and you shouldn’t be working for them,” Trump told CNN's Jim Acosta asked a question regarding a migrant caravan headed to the U.S southern border through Mexico.
In response to a reporter from PBS, Trump called her question “racist” when she asked about his stance on the implications of his nationalist rhetoric.
