WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and the House impeachment probe (all times local):
2:50 p.m.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto is urging President Donald Trump to work with European leaders and adds: “Mr. President, you have here a great democracy. Keep it going on."
The two leaders spoke after a series of meetings Wednesday at the White House.
Niinisto’s comments about democracy come as Trump battles with House Democrats over an impeachment inquiry that have stoked concerns about a constitutional crisis.
His comments about working with Europe also came after Trump complained about persistent trade deficits with the European Union and stressed that “we're going to have to start doing something.”
The Finnish leader says Europe and the United States share the same values focused on democracy, human rights and rules-based order.
Niinisto says “we all know Europe needs USA. but I say USA also needs Europe."
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1:20 p.m.
President Donald Trump says he agrees a whistleblower should be protected, “if the whistleblower is legitimate.”
Trump is commenting about a House impeachment inquiry Wednesday as he meets with the president of Finland.
Trump was highly critical though of the whistleblower report alleging he used the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election.
Trump says the whistleblower wrote about a “vicious conversation” that he asserted was in reality a “very innocent conversation.”
He says the whistleblower “either got it totally wrong, made it up, or the person giving the information to the whistleblower was dishonest, and this country has to find out who that person was.” He then described the person who talked to the whistleblower as a “spy.”
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