Split screen? House impeachment vote likely to take place during Trump rally

The House is poised to vote to impeach President Trump around the same time he takes the stage for a campaign rally in Michigan, setting the stage for a dramatic spit-screen moment.

The House passed the rule around noon Wednesday that sets up six hours of debate on two articles of impeachment accusing Trump of abusing his office and obstructing Congress. The vote on the articles is likely to come sometime between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Trump is slated to deliver remarks at a “Merry Christmas” campaign rally in Battle Creek, Mich., at 7 p.m. The details of the rally were announced on Dec. 5, long before the House vote on impeachment articles was scheduled.

The rally will afford Trump the opportunity to respond to the House vote in real time. The president has used his campaign events to lambast the impeachment inquiry since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced it in late September, denouncing it as a “sham” and a “witch hunt” before friendly audiences of supporters.

Trump had a relatively light public schedule on Wednesday until he departed the White House for Michigan after 4 p.m. Trump did not answer shouted questions from reporters as he left, and instead greeted reporters on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One. 

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said earlier that Trump was working all day but would watch “some of the proceedings” between meetings at the White House.

“The President will be working all day,” Grisham said. “He will be briefed by staff throughout that day, and could catch some of the proceedings between meetings.”

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway described his mood as “fine” and insisted Trump believes the effort will be a stain on the legacy of the Democrats. 

“Nobody’s fine with somebody who should not be impeached, who did not commit high crimes and misdemeanors for being impeached, but his mood is fine in that today is just kind of an add water and stir kind of day,” Conway told reporters at the White House.

Trump tweeted about the House debate throughout Wednesday, criticizing Pelosi, claiming innocence and asking his backers to “say a PRAYER.”

Trump also shared numerous tweets from his allies in Congress and the media criticizing the inquiry.

“SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!” Trump tweeted before 1 p.m.

The House is widely expected to vote to impeach Trump along party lines. Democrats have accused Trump of abusing his office by asking Ukraine to pursue investigations that could benefit his reelection campaign. Republicans have lined up in support of Trump, dismissing the evidence as insufficient to accuse Trump of an impeachable offense.

Vice President Pence, who is in Battle Creek ahead of Wednesday’s rally, blasted the impeachment inquiry during a speech, calling it a “disagrace.”

“The truth is they are trying to impeach this president because they know they can’t defeat this president,” Pence said of House Democrats at a “Workers for Trump” event. “They’re trying to run down this president because they know they can’t run against our record.”