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Oct. 2 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats during a joint news conference with Finnish President Saul Niinisto at the White House on Wednesday. Trump responded brusquely when a Finnish reporter asked what lessons could be learned from Finland, the happiest country in the world.
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"Well, you got rid of Pelosi, and you got rid of shifty Schiff," Trump said, referring to the House speaker and House intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff, who are leading an impeachment inquiry. "Finland is a happy country."
Trump said Pelosi is spending too much time focusing on the impeachment inquiry launched last week in response to a whistle-blower complaint about a phone call between Trump and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The complaint accused Trump of pressuring Zelensky to investigate presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
"Ninety-nine percent of Nancy Pelosi's time is spent on this," Trump said, telling Niinisto, "I'm sorry to bother you with this, Mr. President, because we have other things to talk about."
Pelosi and Schiff held a news conference earlier Wednesday during which Pelosi called Trump's actions "an assault on the Constitution."
Trump met Niinisto to mark the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
"President Trump and President Niinisto will discuss enhancing cooperation between the United States and Finland, including opportunities to promote European and Arctic security," the White House said in a statement. "They will reaffirm their shared interest in commercial and technological cooperation."
