Donald Trump was been filmed as he joked about ‘Bad Hombres’ and praised ICE agents at a a Hispanic Heritage month event – spurred on by a huge applause.
The president appeared able to let his hair down and ignore the increasing pressure of the impeachment inquiry as he spoke at the celebration on Friday.
‘Four more years, four more years,’ the crowd chanted at the White House, as large numbers of pulled out their phones to record him.
As the cheers died down Trump says, ‘A lot of spirit, a lot of spirit,’ before launching into a speech thanking them for attending.
President Donald Trump laughed and joked as he spoke at a celebration event for Hispanic Heritage Month at the White House on Friday. During his speech he joked about the ‘bad hombres’ and even praised ICE in an unexpected move
Numerous people gather for a selfie with the President and throughout his speech countless phones were recording
During his speech Trump praised Hispanic Border Control Agents and a quarter of ICE agents who he also alleged were too. He later joked about ‘bad hombres’ which he had previously been cautioned for before
Looking around the room he asks, ‘Everybody here Hispanic or Hispanic American… do we have anybody who isn’t?’ Before pointing at one member of the crowd and joking. He adds, ”How are you? Great man of faith.’
The celebration, which is honored every year from from September 15 until October 15, also featured a short speech from Vice President Mike Pence who claimed the administration was fighting for their interests – ‘faith, family and freedom.’
Later Trump went on to thank the ‘thousands’ of Hispanic Americans on the front line ‘protecting our borders,’ to much applause.
He added that the crowd could understand ‘how important borders are’ to which they cheered, ‘Yes.’
Then he went onto praise ICE agents of whom he claimed a quarter are Hispanic and ‘are tough.’
Trump added: ‘They are patriots and we’re moving MS-13 gang members and some of these horrible people.
‘They are being brought out of our country by the thousands, and they are bad, as you say, “bad hombres.”‘
The crowd continued to cheer as Trump looked around the room acknowledging the phrase he just said.
‘You better believe it. I used that word and nobody’s let me forget it,’ he said with a chuckle.
Trump also praised the Hispanic and Latino work ethic stating that he used to hate competing with ‘them’ because they are ‘smart, tough and vicious.’
He claimed that more than one million people from the community had entered the workforce and that Hispanic American employment was ‘the lowest level in the history of our country.’
US President Donald Trump greeted guests during a reception for a Hispanic Heritage Month, at the White House in Washington, DC, on September 27. The large crowds cheered and tried to film the President
Trump signed 2020 election caps that were passed out through the crowds. A large group of the community were in attendance, many desperate for a selfie or to be near to the President
Trump’s mood was jovial and seemed unaffected by further developments in the impeachment inquiry, since it was launched by House Democrats on Tuesday.
As of Friday, they had subpoenaed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for documents related to Donald Trump’s call with Ukraine’s president the diplomat has not produced.
Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee, Rep. Elijah Cummings, chairman of the Oversight committee, and Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the Intelligence committee, gave him until October 4 to comply in new letter.
‘Your failure or refusal to comply with the subpoena shall constitute evidence of obstruction of the House’s impeachment inquiry,’ the chairmen wrote.
They are also seeking testimony from the whistle-blower who revealed the content of the call and other current and former State Department officials referenced in the whistle-blower’s complaint for their probe and impeachment inquiry.
In a Friday summons they announced hearing dates for former Ukraine envoy Marie Yovanovitch, U.S. Special Representative to Ukraine Kurt Volker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of European and Eurasian affairs George Kent, Pompeo deputy Ulrich Brechbuhl and EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland in the next two weeks.
Schiff revealed Friday that the chairmen plan to call their first witnesses next week.
Members of the audience sing the National Anthem before President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the Hispanic Heritage Month Reception in the East Room of the White House
Trump said that he did not like competing with Hispanic and Latino people in the workplace because they were ‘smart, tough and vicious’ to much applause from the crowd